Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Rob the Builder ~ He Can Do It.

I've got to share some special "art" with you. 

Disclaimer: You know that I laugh at inappropriate times. Like in church and the world's saddest movie -- and when someone suffers a non life-threatening injury.  So. This is my confession, my shame and flippin' hilarious.

Rob teaches construction technology and occasionally he comes home with some great stories. The other day he brought home a picture. 

My favorite, oops, "Rob didn't see that one coming" moment happened two years ago. But it didn't have any art, so I'm going to tell this one. 

After days of studying safety with tools, it was time to work (read play) with tools. Finally. The kids were excited and maybe a little nervous. Rob had done a good job painting word pictures of "tools can hurt you" scenarios.

The lab consisted of kids, two by four boards and nail guns with nails. The group worked together so Rob could give tips and offer help. One gun was a bit sluggish, the other, well, calling it hair trigger might be appropriate. Each student got to nail with each gun. The speedier gun was the one assigned to the next student in the lineup so Rob got into position. "I'm going to hold this board here, you shoot it into place here." Simple, no problem. Until the kid accidentally bumped the trigger and produced an extra shot. Where did the shot go? Into Rob's thumb and then into the board. Rob's done a few different variations of this before, it's old news to him. It missed all vital stuff and he said it didn't really hurt. However. The reality of the teacher nailed to the board caused a little bit of mass panic. Rob calmly explained that he was fine. No. An ambulance didn't need to be called. All was well. He just needed a little help removing his thumb from the board. A hammer was asked for an produced and prying commenced. When that didn't work, the nail was pounded out the way it came in. All good til it twisted. Rob calmly took over the full procedure, pulled the nail, slid his thumb off the nail and went to the first aid kit. 

All in a day's work.

He then noticed that the poor operator of the nail gun looked a little green. He got him safely seated before nature took it's course.

The next day the artwork appeared on a kid's desk. When asked why he'd drawn the incident. The artist said it needed to be commemorated.

Scraps and Snippets ~ Vegan Mexican Seven Layer Dip & Jalepeno Poppers

 Vegan Mexican Seven Layer Dip

Minus a layer or two. Wink. Wink.

One can of TJ's black bean refried beans.  (Or homemade version from dried. Rinse, soak and cook Black Beans, then reheat them smashing them and seasoning them with garlic powder, a little salt and olive oil.)

A few TBSPs of Tofutti's Sour Supreme

Salsa Verde (green salsa)

Romaine or other leaf lettuce chopped (several leaves)

Chopped tomatoes

Chopped black olives

Finely chopped onion

Finely chopped yellow, red and/or green pepper. 

Trader Joe's (or equivalent) low salt organic tortilla chips for dipping. (TJ's salt free organic ones are super tasty...no sodium)

I'm not going to give you amounts. You'll have to layer it on to taste. If you don't like onions, olives, etc. leave em off, or go crazy adding even more of one item. Put the black beans in the bottom of a flat bowl/casserole/dish. An 8 x 8 or so. Spread it out. Dollop several blobs of Sour Supreme on the beans and "frost" the beans. The next layer will be the Salsa Verde, do the same thing with dollops and spread over cream. Then top with the chopped lettuce. Next the chopped tomatoes. Ditto onions and black olives. Last will be the colorful peppers. There is enough flavor that you won't miss the cheese. You can warm the beans before adding the other ingredients. But it's really good cold. Serve it with tortilla chips.

The Poppers recipe is HERE.

Notes on the changes we made: 

Bread crumbs were Panko bread crumbs. Highly recommended.

The cheese was Daiya Pepper Jack.

We used Almond Milk

Our eggs were flax eggs. 1 TBSP ground flax seed plus 3 TBSP water for each egg, the recipe calls for 2.

So here is the ingredient list we used. Go to the link for the instructions. Gotta give credit for the recipe.

12 fresh jalapeno peppers
6 oz.   softened Tofutii Better Than Cream Cheese
1 ½ c.  shredded Daiya Pepper Jack cheese (or cheddar)
2-TBSP ground flax seed. PLUS 6 TBSP water (mix & set aside)
2 Tb   unsweetened almond milk
1 c.     panko breadcrumbs
½ c.    flour

Scraps and Snippets ~ A Farm Report and Dinner Party Deliciousness

Vegan jalapeno poppers and 7 Layer Dip

Heirloom tomato Rainbow

Farming was easy peasy and without injury. I killed nothing, sliced nothing off my body. I didn't fall or slide around inside my mock Crocs and pull any muscles. I snapped Swiss Chard and chatted with one of the farmers. I didn't see a bug til we were packing the boxes. Of course, it wasn't just a bug, it was a big old spider. But that's beside the point.

Really? Do I need to post a caption?

In our CSA packs we scored grapes. Gotta make some jam. And the tomatoes, tail end of season and the survivors of the hail, are delicious. I made Pomodoro for dinner. Yum.

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bundt Cake with Chocolate Ganache

The rest of the pictured food is Vegan party food. A Vegan 7 layer dip, Vegan jalapeno poppers, Vegan spinach and artichoke dip. Zucchini double chocolate bundt cake with chocolate ganache. 24 was a beast. It was her party, so I got to help and eat. I'll try to pry those recipes out of her. She's kind of a dash and pinch kind of cook. I did de-seed the jalapenos and have been breathing free since I did participated in that little activity.

Vegan Appetizer yumminess

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Random Catch-Ups

Cookie Eater, but not the Cookie.

Whew. Busy weekend. Busy week. Busy day.

Temperature extremes. Yup. In Iowa we got it all, 50's to 90's.

Loads of family and friends are getting new roofs. (I feel like I should say rooves.)

Our final hail assessment will be in my work parking lot tomorrow morning. (That sounds weird, doesn't it? "Hey lady, pssst...over here.)

NOT the cookie fail. Just an attempt to remind myself I CAN make a good cookie.

Last night 24 (who will soon be renamed by herself because I can't keep using her age...) took week one of a four week Raw food class. Too cool. I learned some stuff...lots of stuff. Took two pages of notes. I will share some of the fun tidbits with you. For starters, I learned that the way you slice/cut/shred veggies and foods is a key to release flavors. This may be a duh moment. But I never thought of that. I just chop and toss. But the teacher said that you work with the food's textures and strengths. Wow. Revolutionary thought. I learned that you can sprout quinoa which is pretty exciting. Another use for that lovely little grain. Week three will give us sprouting techniques and suggestions. She also told us that we could get a mushroom kit and grow our own fresh portabellas for lower cost than we buy them at the grocery store. A good knife is magical and a tool that will last almost a lifetime. (I do NOT have a good knife.) Next week we will learning better knife techniques.

Sweet information that I kind of wish I knew earlier. Ha. Ha. Anyhoo. I'm going to get my money's worth out of the class. And will probably develop knife envy. Too late, I'm pretty sure I already have it.

Low point. Not for the dogs, but for me. I tweaked a cookie recipe (one without chocolate...maybe that was the problem.) that was kind of a fail. The dogs LOVE them. I mean really love them. They are doughy with a hint of sweet (the cookies, not the dogs.) Edible, but not tasty (again, cookie not dog). Unless you are a dog. If you are a dog you would smell them from across the room and harass the cookie holder until she gives you one. People? I think they subtly slide it under the table into the waiting mouth of a dog. But. I am determined to make a cookie that pleases man and beast. Just a little more tweaking. Or a lot more. We'll see.

And the farm looms. Glad it's not going to be 90 again. Hopefully I won't leave behind DNA or have to kill tomato demons. Report tomorrow.

Serials and Scenario's Amish Values for Your Family ~ Reviewed

Amish Values for Your Family: What We Can Learn from the Simple Life

Suzanne Woods Fisher

Paperback: 192 pages

Publisher: Revell (August 1, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0800719964

Description:

For readers who long for strong families that know how to truly enjoy life together, there is much to learn from the Amish. Values like community, forgiveness, simple living, obedience, and more can be your family legacy--without selling your car, changing your wardrobe, or moving out to farm country.

In Amish Values for Your Family, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher shows how you can adopt the wisdom of the Amish when it comes to family matters. In this inspiring and practical book readers will find charming true stories interlaced with solid, biblical advice about parenting, marriage, and all aspects of family life. As readers get an intimate glimpse into the everyday lives of real Amish families, they will learn to prioritize what's truly important, simplify decision-making, slow down as a family, safeguard time together, and let go when the time comes.

Review:

I'm not in love with Amish fiction, which seems to be on the top of the book pile of popularity. So, I've not read any of Suzanne Woods Fisher's novels.

But, I am fascinated by the Amish lifestyle. There is a part of me, buried deep within my soul, that wants to live simply and in a tight knit family-rich society. I read and watch documentaries about this simple way of life with a little bit of envy and a lot of wistful sighing. I know I've romanticized the Amish. There is a deep sense of mystery to them, and a steadfastness that is the polar opposite of modern society. Their lives are hard, and I'd miss things like my every other month pedicure if I set out to join up with a group of simple people. (And probably my husband, too, he would make for an impressive Amish man but don't think he shares my longing.) And if you read my post last week about our Amish sighting you have probably already figured out that I'm a wee bit intrigued by the lifestyle. (Pampered dogs, well, yes. They are, and I dare say my feet are a waste of pampering as well.)

All that said. If you feel the way I do about the simple life. If there is a longing in your soul to work hard and shun modern conveniences and distractions, you probably need to just go ahead and click on title then the "add to my cart" button. (Another English convenience I'd miss.)

Fisher covers dozens of aspects and attitudes of Amish life and recounts stories and examples from Amish folks. She then sifts through the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle to the core issue, names it and suggests what we English can add to our own lives and families to capture the sense of simple. With quotes and sweet stories, moments of convicting thoughts, and helpful suggestions, she makes it possible to choose to simplify where we can so that we can have a taste of the peace and fulfillment that seems to occur in a life lived simply.

If you took the time to read the review, you just probably need to get a copy.

Scraps and Snippets ~ Mixed Ethnicity for Dinner? Why Not?

So. We needed dinner. What to do? 

Armed with this recipe (which is two thumbs up with nary a substitution) and a bag of broccoli slaw, we began creating. 

Broccoli Slaw

1 bag broccoli slaw

1 T rice vinegar

1 T sesame oil

1/2 teaspoon soy sauce

2 T sesame seeds

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

1 teaspoon sweetener of choice (I used agave)

1 teaspoon dried cilantro

3 T raisins

3 T sunflower seeds

Mix and chill. 

I love the homey touch in the picture, the pen and the back of the bank receipt that I scribbled measurements on. Ha. Ha.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Weekend Adventure ~ Hold Please

So I wanted to give you a recipe or two.

But in order to do that I have to decipher my chicken scratches and type it out. And I have been remiss. The muffins are really tasty. And. I tentatively promise to post that one tomorrow.

Let's just say that you are on hold, temporarily, and you are going to enjoy entertainment while on hold. Not of the musical variety. But of the visual.

Photographic highlights of the camping trip.