My Life's Biggest Project: Mama Mia

My Life's Biggest Project: Mama Mia: "I am one of those people who absolutely loves Italian food. It is by far my favorite. Breads, pasta's and sauce (well everything, but alfred..."

Mama Mia

I am one of those people who absolutely loves Italian food. It is by far my favorite. Breads, pasta's and sauce (well everything, but alfredo anyway). I adore Italian food and really Italian culture for that matter. The problem with Italian food is the over abundance of carbs. I sure do love carbs, but they sure do not love my waistline...lol. My mom sent me this recipe and as soon as I go grocery shopping after I get home I'm going to try it out. If you happen to do so before me let me know what you think. Here it is:

Courtesy of Rachel Ray:

Cauliflower Sauce with Whole-Wheat Penne

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
Show: 30 Minute MealsEpisode: Healthy, Wealthy & Wise
Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (147)
Filed under: Pasta, Vegetables, Cauliflower, more
RECIPE RATINGS & REVIEWS(147)
Cook Time:25 minLevel: EasyYield: 4 servings
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Ingredients
1 pound whole-wheat penne rigate
Salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, cracked from skin and sliced
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 head cauliflower, stem removed and chopped
1 cup chicken stock
4 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped and finely chopped
3/4 cup grated Romano, 3 generous handfuls
Salt and black pepper
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt and pasta and cook to al dente. Drain and reserve 2 ladles of pasta water.

While water is coming up to a boil and pasta cooks, make sauce. Heat a deep skillet over medium heat with extra-virgin olive oil. Add garlic and cook 3 minutes, then remove. Add onions and cook 5 minutes then add cauliflower, chicken stock and the rosemary. Cover the pan and cook 15 minutes. Uncover the sauce, add 1 to 2 ladles of pasta water and mash the cauliflower with the back of a wooden spoon or potato masher. Add the pasta and cheese to the cauliflower and toss to combine. Season the dish with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve.

I love cauliflower, which is why my mother sent me this recipe. One of the things that I love about it is that Miss Rachel Ray has given us a way to make a healthy meal and it will only take about 30 minutes. When time is an issue your health shouldn't be the thing put on the back burner. Try out this recipe and let me know what you think!

My Life's Biggest Project: Just a day, just an ordinary day

My Life's Biggest Project: Just a day, just an ordinary day: "Today I had a slight spout of Deja vu. I went back to my high school in Bixby and judged a speech and debate contest. I of course made my be..."

Just a day, just an ordinary day

Today I had a slight spout of Deja vu. I went back to my high school in Bixby and judged a speech and debate contest. I of course made my bestie go with me. Partially so that he could see my old high school and partially so that he could see what it was that I did in high school. Theater was a big part of my life and as my bff I felt that it was necessary for him to be exposed to something that was such a big part of my life. It helped mold and shape me Ro become the person that I am today. Watching the high school students compete today reminded me of how much I missed that part of my life. Another plus to doing this today is the volunteer/ community service that we got to do. There's no shame to my game...lol.

Once I became a graduate student having any kind of life outside of school became somewhat obsolete. This was weird for me because as an undergrad I was very involved in a lot of things in the community and college. Being able to be a part of a community and being an active part of it is important for the mind and body :)

I also believe that it is important to be a dependable person. My old director TJ sent out a mass facebook message asking some Bixby drama alum to come help with the competition and it was important for me to be able to do that for him. He invested a lot of time in me as a high school student so this was the least I could do for him.

One thing about getting to be a judge at a high sco tournaments the judges lounge. It's kind of a neat little perk. Basically a token of the schools appreciation for your volunteer services they hook you up with breakfast and lunch. I was proud of myself, no matter how tempting the donuts and cream cheese Danishes were this morning I passed them up for some fresh fruit. Yay me :) then there was lunch along with some yummy subway sandwiches they also had some cheesecake that looked amazing, but I went ahead and passed on that too. Yay me again. My former drama teacher Mrs. Nobles informed me that she had been keeping up with my blog! This made me proud and also inspired me to not disappoint.

After the bff and I left the tournament we stopped by my moms. I got to see my little brother and my brother from another mother. My mom, Eric and I then proceeded to my grandparents house. They both seemed to be in good spirits so we all went out for dinner. This is where it goes downhill.

For dinner my grandparents wanted to go to the Lazy Fishermen in south Bixby. Oh it's good stuff but certainly not healthy. I had catfish, shrimp and veggies. On the plus side I stopped eating when I was full and sent my mommy home with my leftovers. It's a good thing that I hadn't made poor choices all day or today could have been an epic fail lol. I've got to get packed and ready to head back home. Goodnight my loyal readers.

My Life's Biggest Project: Tutti Fruiti

6 Exotic Fruits that are good for you: My Life's Biggest Project: Tutti Fruiti: "As my break comes to an end I would like to say that I did everything I was supposed to do, but I didn't. I had some great memories and good..."

Tutti Fruiti

As my break comes to an end I would like to say that I did everything I was supposed to do, but I didn't. I had some great memories and good times. Sometimes that's just as important. I'm getting older and I know that I'm not going to get to see those people in my life that I am oh so close to now as much the older we get, that's just how it goes. Heck I don't even know where I'll be after graduation in May so who knows how often I'll get to see family and friends at all. The big start to my last semester of graduate school starts Tuesday and that is both awesome and scary!
Another scary thing is getting my butt back on track. This break thing is over. I'm pretty much healed up from my surgery and now it is so on. I got my little P90X newsletter and it talked about six exotic fruits that are amazing for you and will also make you look super fancy if you are out and about and bust them out. I'll break it down for you so that you can be up to speed on these fruits that make me want to go hang out on a tropical resort and lay out on a beach. That may also be because I've been freezing my booty off for days and water weather is pretty much what I live for...lol. Here is your list of fruits for you by Denis Faye:

***A note from me about today's post:*** Anything in quotation was taken directly from Faye's article and the authors words should be given credit to the themselves. I didn't really feel a need to change up a lot of what Faye said as the information seemed to be pretty solid stuff and said pretty well in my opinion.

not really sure why there is star fruit in the picture, but the rest of it is legit, oh and minus the orange too I suppose...lol.

1. Pomegranates. I am so excited about the pomegranate faze that has exploded in the last few years. I myself am a hug fan as anything pomegranate is super yummy! The name pomegranate is Latin for "seeded apple," which is funny because the only thing that apples and pomegranates have in common is that they are both part of the fruit family and they both grow on trees. Beyond that you got natta.  

"Pomegranates have a hard, inedible red and yellow skin. Inside, you'll find clusters of seeds protected by sweet, pulpy little deep-red pouches called arils. (Does this sound anything like an apple to you? I have no idea what the Romans were thinking,)" said Faye."Arils are the part you eat, seed and all. Despite their alien appearance, the chance that they'll sprout in your stomach and take over your consciousness is slim."

"Half an average-sized pomegranate (about 4 inches in diameter) has 117 calories, a gram and a half of fat, 2 and a half grams of protein, 26 grams of carbs, and a respectable 5 grams of fiber. It has 24 percent of the RDA for vitamin C and 13 percent of the RDA for folate. You'll also find vitamins E, K, and B6, and thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid. For minerals, you get 9 percent of the RDA for potassium and 11 percent of the RDA for copper, as well as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, and selenium."

"There are a host of studies showing that pomegranate consumption can potentially help with everything from heart disease to dental plaque to cancer to the common cold. I'd take these studies with a grain of salt, but at the same time, there sure are a lot of them, and until someone figures out their accuracy, it's not going to hurt you to eat pomegranates."

2. Kumquats- OK so as far as this one goes, I personally am in love with the name...lol. How funny would id be if someone walked up to you and was all like, "hey what is that" and you tell them a kumquat, they simply wouldn't believe you, or they'd just laugh. I know I would haha! My new favorite word for today is kumquat (it was swagger for like a month...lol). Despite it's funny  and according to Faye its "questionable name", this fruit is great for an entire family (which fruit isn't?). Kumquats are from south Asia and are considered a citrus fruit that resembles the likes of a tiny little orange. The difference is that this little citrus fruit can be eaten in its entirety. That's right! Skin and all.

"If you choose to eat a kumquat, prepare yourself for an experience. The outer skin is tasteless, but once you bite into it, the bitter juice explodes in your mouth and your face distorts into a pucker the likes of which no lemon could ever match. At this point, if you spit it out, you'll have that taste in your mouth for a while, so commit to your kumquat. After a couple of seconds, the bitterness gives way to the taste of the sweet pulp and skin and you're fine."

"Ready for another?"

"Most people settle for getting their kumquats in the form of jams and jellies, but in my opinion, that's the gutless option. Real men and women eat their kumquats whole."

"Surviving an eight-kumquat odyssey will earn you 104 calories, 1 gram of fat, 2 grams of protein, 24 grams of carbs, and 9 grams of fiber. You’ll get 112% percent of the RDA for vitamin C, as well as a little riboflavin, vitamin A, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese."

3. Asian pears - "You may know this fruit by many other names, including sand pear, nashi pear, or—if you're feeling all scientific—pyrus pyrifolia. They come from (obviously) Asia, and they basically look like big, firm apples with pear-like skin. Their flesh is crispy, grainy, and juicy. They're pear-like in taste, but not texture. They're very nonconfrontational, a great new fruit to introduce to fussy eaters." I may actually like these because I do like pears, the way they smell and if something is pear flavored, but my personal problem with them is the tecture. It's too gritty for me and kind of ruins the entire experience.

"One medium-sized fruit (about 2 and a half inches in diameter) has 51 calories, 1 gram of protein, 13 grams of carbohydrates, and 4 grams of fiber. Asian pears aren't exactly micronutrient powerhouses, but they're better than a stick in the eye. That one piece of fruit contains 8 percent of the RDA for vitamin C and 7 percent of vitamin K. You also get some vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and pantothenic acid. For minerals, there's 4 percent of the RDA for potassium and manganese, as well as some magnesium, phosphorus, and copper."

4. Kiwifruit- I love me some kiwi! No really I do! I use to get excited when my friends and I would go to the Kettle to get breakfast buffets because they had kiwi on the fruit bar and not everywhere does. Faye says that, "Kiwifruit only became kiwifruit in 1962. Before that, these brown, fuzzy little fruits went by a variety of monikers, two of my favorites being the Chinese gooseberry and the hairy bush fruit. (I have no further comment on those names.)"

"A ripe kiwi will be firm with just the slightest give. While the skin doesn't seem all that welcoming, it's actually completely edible and loaded with fiber. That said, it's hairy and chewy, and it's understandable if you decide to skip it. Just cut your fruit across its equator and spoon out the yummy green flesh within, seeds and all."

"One medium skinless kiwifruit (about 76 grams in weight) has 46 calories, 1 gram of protein, 11 grams of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of fiber. It packs a real vitamin C wallop, with 117 percent of the RDA. It also has 38 percent of the RDA for vitamin K, as well as lesser amounts of vitamin A, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, and pantothenic acid. For minerals, you'll get 7 percent of the RDA for potassium, and lesser amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and manganese."

"I don't have the nutrition facts for the a kiwifruit consumed with the skin on, but suffice it to say you'll get everything listed above plus a bunch more fiber."

5. Figs - "While just about everyone has had Fig Newtons^® at some point in their life, few people have tried the fresh version of the fruit they come from" ( I certainly have not, but like those that Faye is refferring to I have had the cookie!). "Surprising, considering that every year, more than a million tons of this fruit are produced internationally. While dried figs (and Fig Newtons) are available year-round, fresh figs are in season in summer, sometimes into autumn. There are more than 150 varieties of these weird, dangly-looking things, and they're highly perishable, so eat them within a day or two of buying them. Keep them refrigerated. A good fig is plump with a little give, but not mushy. If they smell sweet, that's also a good indication that they're ready to eat."

"One large raw fig has 47 calories,12 grams of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of fiber. You'll also get small amounts of pretty much every vitamin and mineral around, except vitamins E and B12, selenium, and sodium."

"Figs also have a laxative effect, so if you decide they're the fruit for you and you go on a little binge, try to do so close to a restroom."

6. Persimmons- I had never heard of these until this article, but here is what I found out. "Another colorful contribution to the fruit rainbow from Asia, persimmons are commercially available in two varieties. The most readily available is the hachiya, which is shaped a little like an acorn. You need to wait until they're super-ripe and soft before they become edible."

"Conversely, fuyu persimmons resemble tomatoes in shape and are slightly orange in color. They're edible (and delicious, I might add) while still firm."

"Both varieties are typically autumn fruit."

"And here's a little fun fact for you: Persimmons, like tomatoes, are technically considered berries. Who knew? They also contain small amounts of lycopene, an essential phytochemical thought to decrease the risk of cancer."

"One hachiya persimmon has about 118 calories, 1 gram of protein, 31 grams of carbohydrates, and 6 grams of fiber. It'll give you a hearty 55 percent of the RDA for vitamin A and 21 percent of the RDA for vitamin C. There's also 8 percent of the RDA for vitamin B6, 6 percent for vitamin E, and smaller amounts of vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folate. On the mineral front, there's 30 percent of the RDA for manganese, 9 percent for copper, 8 percent for potassium, and lesser amounts of everything else but sodium.

It may take a little searching, but most of these six exotic fruits are available at your local grocery store. If you're lucky, you might even find a few of them at your local farmers' market. So put down that apple, get your exotic on, and enjoy!"

I have had a few of them, but as a fruit lover I'm sure I'll tackle on the rest. Especially now that I know all of the amazing benefits of them. Have you tried them out? What do you think about them? Let me know and I'll let you know what I think about them as I try them out!

My Life's Biggest Project: Sabotage

My Life's Biggest Project: Sabotage: "My friend Cashen has a tendency to get somewhat obsessed with television shows. I don't mean when they are on television I mean later on. He..."