by admin | Nov 21, 2024 | Food & Health
I made this yesterday, and it was quite delicious. It was also filling, which makes it possibly good for two. It depends all on your appetite, of course. Here’s the recipe. Although I did not have the basil to garnish over, I did cook the sauce with cilantro spices.
Sure! Here’s a delicious recipe for Lentil Rotini with Vegan Feta and Roasted Garlic, served with crispy roasted Brussels sprouts. It’s a simple, flavorful dish packed with plant-based goodness!
Lentil Rotini with Vegan Feta and Roasted Garlic served with Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients:
For the Lentil Rotini:
- 8 oz lentil rotini (or any lentil-based pasta)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for sautéing)
- 1/2 cup vegan feta cheese, crumbled (store-bought or homemade)
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley (optional, for garnish)
For the Crispy Brussels Sprouts:
- 1 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
- 2 tbsp avocado oil (or any high-heat oil)
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- Optional: 1-2 tbsp balsamic vinegar or lemon juice (for a tangy finish)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Brussels Sprouts:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Trim the ends off the Brussels sprouts and slice them in half.
- Toss the Brussels sprouts with avocado oil, salt, black pepper, and oregano in a large mixing bowl until they’re evenly coated.
- Arrange the Brussels sprouts cut-side down on a baking sheet in a single layer for the crispiest texture.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through until golden brown and crispy on the edges. If you’d like extra crispiness, roast for a few more minutes, but keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
- Optional: For extra flavor, drizzle with a little balsamic vinegar or a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.
- Cook the Lentil Rotini:
- While the Brussels sprouts are roasting, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the lentil rotini and cook according to the package instructions, usually about 7-9 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Once cooked, drain the pasta, but reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water for later.
- Make the Garlic and Vegan Feta Sauce:
- While the pasta cooks heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant and golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add the drained pasta to the pan with the garlic and toss to combine. If the mixture feels dry, add a little of the reserved pasta water to create a light sauce.
- Add the crumbled vegan feta cheese and stir until it softens and melts into the pasta. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble the Dish:
- Serve the lentil rotini on a plate or bowl, topped with the crispy roasted Brussels sprouts.
- Garnish with fresh herbs, such as basil or parsley, if desired.
- Enjoy your delicious, plant-based meal!
This recipe balances the hearty, protein-packed lentil rotini with the crispy, savory Brussels sprouts and tangy vegan feta, creating a satisfying and flavorful dish. The roasted garlic adds a lovely depth to the pasta, and the crispy sprouts add crunch and umami to each bite. Enjoy!
by admin | Sep 12, 2024 | AA, Addiction
My most dire issue is me, and I am an alcoholic. I have a sobriety date of January 2, 2022, and a Sponsor who knows she is my Sponsor. She has a Sponsor too. My Sponsor has taken me through the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. These days, I have the opportunity, and immense honor, to Sponsor other women as well.
As for the spiritual awakening that comes from these 12 steps, I will honestly “tell on myself” and say that I ask my higher power, whom I have decided to call God, all on my own—no one has ever told me to say that—”When is it going to happen?” It has. I also ask for my spiritual experience. That has happened daily since I picked up that first white chip.
I think I will begin by saying that my alcoholic career began at a very young age. I would swear it is possible for a switch to go off once alcohol touches your lips that first time. I am unsure of that, but I can say that by the age of 8, I was off to the races, sneaking sangria every night before bedtime because it helped me sleep! Plus, I loved how sweet it was. I didn’t taste the alcohol. That was the last thing on my mind. Well, of course at 8 I may not be very picky as to whether or not something would get me tispy, but the feelings of strange, and unable to understand things, and something just not tasting good were normal. Well, alcohol did not fit the bill hidden behind the fruity sangria I would have on a nightly basis. Of course, I was extremely smart and would just add water to the bottle. Of course (smiling), my mother never noticed, nor did she taste it either. Of course, right? Those are the lies I told myself all the way to the age of 37, when I completely decided that alcohol would never come near me again.
I did this on my own. I didn’t see the possibility of a program like AA or that I needed it. Now I look back and realize how miserable I was all of these years and the years before 37. What exactly was I thinking? I am not sure. Looking back, I can see how much alcohol controlled my life and hindered my ability to live fully. Finally, seeking help through Alcoholics Anonymous has been life-changing. I am grateful for the support of my Sponsor and the opportunity to help other women on their journeys to sobriety. I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can inspire others to seek the help they need and begin their own path to recovery.
The road is long but sweet if you allow it to be.
by admin | Jul 28, 2024 | Holism
In an effort to be mindful and place myself even where I cannot be, I have decided to write down my thoughts on where nature is taking me. As a flawed human being, I always think I have too little time to do too many things. When I feel a lack of time and start doing things too quickly, albeit various things, I end up completing nothing.
A highly knowledgeable book I have been working on told me that today, I should go outside and experience nature. So, in my mind, I am stepping outside. I am stepping outside my door and reminded of how I used to love being barefoot at all times. These days, I rarely walk without slippers or shoes. I do, though, wear socks at home, which take the place of rubber souls most of the time. I look to the right and disregard the door I see there since it’s not aesthetically pleasing. I do, though, think beyond the door. I think of the sounds I hear. Let’s say I am not pleased, which means I will hear nothing. I will hear no people, no music, no television, no splashing of pool water, nor my niece’s voice. That would be when I look to the left, possibly ahead of me in disdain, and open my door to step back into my humble space, where I attempt to feel tranquility.
In better circumstances, I hear people and music. I don’t open the door and walk through—no. I just listen and enjoy their presence from afar. I make an attempt to foreshadow anyone opening the door from the opposite side so I am not present when they do. Needing to stop my imagination, needing to stop the pleasant sounds of beautiful human beings gathering and enjoying themselves by saying excuse me is definitely outside of my comfort zone.
Then I stop listening because I am secure that there are happy people there. I smile and possibly look down as if mesmerized. Then maybe I look up. Then maybe to the side. Then maybe I stop right in front of my door and walk back in without wanting to step inside and back into the safe space I call home.
This is a culmination of my minimalist experience these last few moments: stepping into the world and feeling happiness by knowing others are living life fully surrounded by things they love. You see, now I have to step back into the many things I have to get done with little time. I need to step back into reading and writing and attempt to finish this five-year document that has been weighing on my mind and heart since day 1. To keep things simple, I am reminded of what makes me smile for a few seconds. That’s all I need. What makes you smile for an instant? Would you want it to stay, or do you relish that you experience it in special moments and not feel it’s all-consuming? Do you like the ability to breathe in happiness and exhale love?
by admin | May 22, 2024 | AA, Addiction, Co-dependency, Lifestyle & Work, Wellness
I have taken on this new perspective, a Twelfth Step practice, of applying the steps to my life. In particular, I am aligning this with love. My experience has shown me I can use this powerlessness ideal for anything.
As a recovering co-dependent, I can say I have been powerless over people. Now, I am admitting that I am powerless over this feeling. Is the feeling good? Yes. Can it become toxic? Yes, it can. Do I want it to be healthy? Yes, I do. So, having “seemingly recovered from a hopeless state of mind and being,” I am officially applying this First step to my emotion – love.
The steps will always work in the same way. I will always feel too much about something. You see, when I don’t overwhelm myself, even if for a moment, with a feeling, then it does not matter. That, of course, does not mean I need to stay there. It seems somewhat dualistic. I know. Is it either love or indifference? Well, maybe. Do we ever act on things and not care while caring? We cannot be doing two things at once. It is not physically possible. Are we always incapable of controlling our emotions and how we behave that it is hopeless? No. Is it possible, though? Yes. Consider something as relevant to me as going to a meeting. I can become so attached to meetings as my saving grace that I refuse to work the program, including living on life’s terms.
My point here is that I have this excellent feeling, and I must first ensure it thrives. I want it to last. This means understanding that the moment I believe I can control it, I have already lost control. I will naturally start to “control it” by worrying. Are the worries necessary? No. Do I worry, regardless? Yes. Do I try to make decisions for “the feeling,” which includes me and possibly someone else? I do. Is this now me trying to control the feeling as well as taking control of someone else’s actions – trying to? Yes. This is why I officially take the first step and admit my powerlessness over this love.
I am not going into this any further. There is too much to be said and insufficient clarity available to share. I can tell, though, that admitting that I feel something, admitting that I have no control over it, admitting that it helps me smile, and admitting that I will allow this to take its course is the best I can do right now.
I admitted that I am powerless over this adoration. I feel that my life has become unmanageable.”
PS. I am NOT interested in managing it. It is so much more beautiful when it happens organically. Do I want it to have happened already? Of course! But that’s when I move on to Step 2.
by admin | May 13, 2024 | AA
Take a look at what you’re doing. Seriously. Do not be afraid. It is scary, time-consuming, and may get you off track. Write down your next steps if you have to, but do not get in your own way.
Why do I say this? From experience, something that has, I hope, made me stronger, and what I hope will not repeat itself with due diligence and practice. Daily practice.
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