Knock Knock…

Every now and again we can all use a good knock knock joke, or something smothered in pumpkin flavors. Thankfully, it is fall and I can have the best of both worlds!

Best joke recently told goes to a brilliant server at Linda’s. He saw a friend’s sad face and opted to cheer him up with a joke…everyone loves a good joke! Joke told:

“Why is it that you never see a pregnant Barbie?”
“Because Ken comes in a separate box…”

Oooo play on words! Joke is brilliant on timing, on awkwardness at 10 a.m. and just for existing. Thanks server at Linda’s for always having a smile on your face in the morning instead of a hangover.

Best use of Pumpkin is a close tie this season. By the time January rolls around I will have picked a winner. But for now the tie goes to Gelatiamo Pumpkin Gelato and Elysian Brewery’s Nightowl pumpkin beer.

Pumpkin Gelato can be DELIVERED TO MY DOOR! *sigh. Who needs gelato delivered to your door…? NO ONE, that’s who. However, Pagliacci pizza speaks to our inner fat lazy selves and offers Gelatiamo’s gelato along with pizza delivery…or simply delivered solo. Two pints of Pumpkin Gelato to our Apartment…please…and thanks. We’ll tip well. Promise.

Nightowl Pumpkin Beer  is the ONLY pumpkin beer. The end all of all pumpkin tastes. It is lightly pumpkin spiced and yet offers just the right balance of sweet vs. beer. It is tasty and I have craved one (or more) Nightowls every fall since 2005. However, the beer cannot be delivered to my door. I’m sure this fact will keep the beer consumption rate at a 1:10 ratio compared to the gelato. But, I think the history the Nightowl and I have can still pull through and push it to be the winner of fall.

What’s the best use of pumpkin or best joke you have experienced this fall?

Let the good light in

Over the past few days I’ve been feeling sickly…past three weeks to be exact. I’m not sure how it all started, but I’m sure that accidentally sleeping with a bedroom window open for two weeks, running nonstop in a social atmosphere and eating out has played a huge part in my sickness. However, on this somewhat sunny Sunday afternoon…I’m letting the good light in. Windows open, cleaning-face on and soaking up a few drops of vitamin D here and there with long stares out the windows. Perhaps my cleaning-face isn’t really on if I’m glaring out upon the city and typing here on this blog. *sigh. But the cleaning face is totally on. Don’t be fooled.

Sunshine honestly makes me feel better. I think it is safe to say it makes everyone feel better. My good friend Amber is getting her supply of rays via Cabo vacation. (ENVY) Another friend is venturing out to Hawaii come the winter Seattle months. They are planning ahead of time to let the good light in. Keeping happy spirits, regenerating their inner souls, taking care of self. It is healthy and seems fitting to take care of the self from time to time.

A psychic once told me that I needed to surround myself with ’sunny’ people. Because there are other people in this world that want to bring you into the darkness and take your ‘light’ away from you. I know that seems awkward to read…but it is all fitting. There is something about me that says I feed on sunshine. I feed off of others sunshine. And in the past few weeks I want to make sure I’m letting all the good light into my life. I think I’m almost there.

• Letting go of grudges 10+ old or younger — check
• Contacting family members on a regular basis to either let them know I love them, thinking ’bout them, or share good news from the ‘big city’ — check
• Surrounding myself with good friends — check
• Date a man that makes me want to be a better person and supports me regularly — check
• Make a house a home — check
• Eat better — ? not 100% there yet, but I’m sure Silk Nog is healthy — right?
• Despite the bad economy splurge on small items/big items that will in time prove to hold up through the fall, winter and spring rains — check
• Start saving and budgeting money appropriately for those ‘rainy days’ or to make steps for adult purchases — almost there

All in all I’m really pleased with the way things have been going the past few weeks. I don’t know what my ’secret’ is…but for right now I’ll say it’s good light surrounding me and pushing me towards another day.

Soaking up vacation rays via hotel in San Francisco

Two pieces of happiness

After an emotional week I have stumbled on this day with hopes of setting higher goals and actually attaining them. So, here’s to trying to blog weekly. Not daily. Stay tuned if it works.

Piece one: Arriving to work early/on time typically means leaving work on time/decent hour. This also means that I can leave in the hustle and bustle of the commuter traffic, which more importantly allows me time to shop for dinner at the Pike Place Market. Honestly, the tourists that flock the market don’t really seem to bother me any more. They are cute and endearing. They have found goodness in my city for a few fleeting hours, which I can get to explore daily if I wanted. I win. They win. Please enjoy my city for the few days you are here. At the market I went straight to my favorite produce people and picked up more than the two items that were on the list to make dinner. One of these items is a honeycrisp / apple. WOWZAHS. Who knew that a piece of fruit could be so darn tasty. Of course it has been genetically modified. No fruit should taste like champagne. So crisp and so light. I hope to return back before their peak season has ended.

Piece Two: There are a few dishes (filled with meat) that my mom made for me while growing up that I wish I could make as great as she does. Now, that I’m older I even follow her around the kitchen watching out for spices and awkward dashes of love that she tosses into the meal that I don’t seem to remember when I’m at home. Some times I embrace the fact that it won’t ever taste the same without meat and enjoy my veggiefied Mom meal all the same. However, tonight I think I won. Finally! After living out of the house for almost 10 years now…I have finally improved upon a staple meal in the Miller family household. Tonight’s secret ingredient wasn’t love…but patience.

Miller Slop: (Yields: 4)
2 cans of green beans + their water
a few yellow russet potatoes (enough to have the bean to potato ratio at 1:1)
a package of Eckridge Farm sausage in a tube
a few heaps of butter/margarine
Salt/Pepper to taste

Directions: toss it all in and let it boil/simmer until potatoes are tender and meat is fully cooked through. I dare say this meal was combined in a crock pot or simply combined and then left to rest while kids got cleaned up and a husband got home from work. Honestly I cannot recall as I wasn’t really in the kitchen while it was being created.

Jo’s Remix of Miller Slop: (Yields: 4)
2 cups water
1 vegan beef bullion cube
about 2 cans or 1 lb. or so of fresh green beans.
a few handfuls of baby red potatoes (enough to keep the bean potato ratio still at 1:1)
3 Tofurky Kielbasa flavored sausages (diced up) I never was a huge fan of the meat ratio equaling the potatoes to green beans as a child. So my brother and I would swap. I’d get more beans and he’s get more meat. Fitting.
1 spoonful of Earth Balance
3 dashes of onion powder
sea salt & pepper to taste

Directions: Put two cups of water and one vegan beef broth bullion cube on Warm to dissolve and create the new ‘canned green bean’ water. Snap and clean out the green beans and add to the water once fully dissolved. Now move the temperature up to Low. While the beans are soaking up the broth prepare the potatoes by cutting them into 1/4 wedges or 1/8 depending on how big your little red spuds are. Add the wedged potatoes to the beans and water and turn up the heat to about Medium to boil. Once the beans start to turn that ‘done green’ color and potatoes are almost soft add in the Tofurkey sliced sausages. You might need to add a cup more water, pending on how things are going. You don’t want a soup but you don’t want it all getting stuck to the pan either.  Here is where I’ve always ruined the meal. As soon as any meal is heated through I begin to scarf it all down because I’m STARVING. But thanks to Timm wrapping up Panic Records work and me nibbling on a Honeycrisp while preparing dinner I could clean up the kitchen and give the foods some time to get to know each other. Add the remaining ingredients, stir together and leave the meal on Low/Warm to let all the flavors fully blend for a good 10 – 15 minutes.

Happy eating!

A few of my favorite things

Over the past few weeks I have realized how great and wonderful the smallest thing are that we have in this life we currently live. Seeing that I haven’t written in a few months it feels like, I’ll keep this simple and make a list.

• Alice in Wonderland: I have discovered that I feel more and more like Alice while walking around this big city. I have met people around the city that seem to remind me more and more of specific characters. So far to date my favorite encounters have been Tweetle Dumb & Tweetle Dee along with the flower ladies.
• Peanut Butter: If you have ever lived with me, visited me for more than 2 days and/or gone food shopping with me you are already aware of my love of the peanut butter. If you live in Bloomington, Ind. you get the most amazing fresh peanut butter gooeyness at Bloomingfoods. Tasty tasty tasty. One of the few selling points while dating Timm is his love for peanut butter as well. We both love trying new brands and new types (sunflower, almond, cashew, etc.) but we always come back to Skippy. Until now. Have you experienced Peanut Butter & Co. or MaraNatha? Both of these new peanut butters have changed my life. They are organic, vegan, and tasty! So throw away those organic oily peanut butter fears and grab either of these brands of peanut butters and get to eating.
• Technology: Are you familiar with Skype, Gtalk video chat, twitter, email, text messaging, cell phone, planes, etc. They are all honestly amazing and I am beyond thankful for every advancement in the technological sphere. I know this is generic, but it’s awesome. Also if you question the awesomeness of it all a good friend shared this video clip with me. Watch it, laugh and then be thankful. Louis CK and Conan
• My Family: This is sort of generic as well, but honestly they all have their own little quirks and ways to reach out to me and make me smile and feel loved. From a text message to a care package I know that my family members are pretty awesome and I appreciate all of them for being in my life.
• Friends and acquaintances that visit: Seeing that Timm and I live in the corner of the world separated from a lot of other people that we know we tend to get visitors. People that I know that he doesn’t know and vice versa. I have had the pleasure to meet so many interesting people through him and love when bands come in to town and I get to meet new people. I also love when friends that I know get to meet Timm and visit me. It’s pretty great how this can happen and we should reference back up to the bullet point on technology.
• Music: I have found the pleasure, as I’m sure most do, of mixing their musical listening to the mood that they feel. I currently beieve my favorite record of the year is YEAH YEAH YEAHS. However, there are a lot of other bands that have come into the Miller Jam Sessions this past month and include: Hot Chip, Alexi Murdock, AC/DC, Matt & Kim, Phoenix, Gaslight Anthem, Tegan & Sara, Spoon, Dexter Gordon, the Knife, Make Do And Mend, Broadway Calls, Hall & Oates, Huey Lewis and the News and because Timm is wearing me down I’ve ever been listening to Morrissey.
• Organic / Vegan / small mom & pop creations: My new favorite place in Seattle is Healeo. They are amazing people who seem to care ’bout what they do and who comes into their store. Just walking by the store makes me happy to know it exists, but I dare say I feel 20 times better ’bout myself and society after visiting this location. Go for the vegan soft serve but stay for the raw cold case, iced tea or one of the best locations to watch the sunset in Seattle.
• Bed: I always have been told that you’ll feel better if you make the bed. Really? I’ll feel better or you’ll feel better knowing that the bed is made? Not sure. And as I’ve grown up, I’ve recently decided that I do always want the bed made. Making the bed isn’t a hard task…or not nearly as hard as I always thought it was when I was a kid…or when I was 20. But I love a bed that is made. The sheets somehow feel softer, cooler and more snug this way. I highly suggest making the bed…you’ll feel better.
• Netflix: This really goes back up to technology but also includes the fact that Netflix was added as part of a 2-year anniversary gift. Also add in the fact that we can stream movies down to our TV in a few seconds and viola! Not only is my mind blown, but I am able to enjoy a spoonful of peanut butter while in PJs, never leaving the house, and am now watching a movie. Thanks Netflix, Timm and Technology.

Surprises can be fun

Hi,

Happy Third of July! I hope you are all doing well this awesome Friday afternoon. Things in the house of Jo are a wee bit stressful…really they are more stressful in the house of Timm than the house of Jo, but the stress from one sorta seeps into the world of the other. When Timm is stressed I find myself trying to plan dinner around Timm’s favorite foods. Sorta silly, but when I’m stressed I plan the meal according to my mood, feelings, etc. So, I try to offer the same up to him. Some meal ideas are better than others. French fries & Ice cream < Arugula, red pepper & cheese quesadilla.

Another fun thing for me is surprises. I love guessing surprises. If you give me an inch I’m going to become super annoying and keep guessing…it’s just this weird younger child in me that can’t let secrets or surprises go. I don’t recall really being this curious as a child…but as an adult I am. So, Timm has learned if he has a surprise he will simply keep his mouth shut…otherwise I’ll be bound to guess, find or ruin the surprise. (Someone’s a jerk.) However, I like to let Timm guess his surprises…to me it is more fun. And to me guessing surprises or getting a surprise when you are stressed is a really great thing. At least…to me it is. Any who…here’s the scenario…

Jo: “There’s a surprise in the fridge…!”
Timm: “Really??? What is it…?”
Jo: “Not telling…” Clearly at this point he could leave the living room, walk directly to the fridge in the kitchen and discover the surprise. He could. But he’s stressed and in mid project, so he’s not leaving his current post.
Timm: “Can I guess…?”
Jo: “Totally!” beyond excited and giddy for the guessing game to begin!
Timm: “Is it ice cream???” kind of excited and kind of annoyed
Jo: “Better than ice cream!”
Timm: “CHEESECAKE!” really excited now…maybe even foaming at the mouth a bit thinking of what wonders await him…
Jo: “even better…”
Timm: “TIRAMISU?!?!?!?!!?!?”

I nod with excitement. I love the guessing game! And the tiramisu was awesome — not vegan or raw but still awesome.

The juice is on!

The juicer has arrived. The box is as tall as my hip when it is sitting on the floor. ummm beyond intimated by the largeness of it all. Opting to eat stupid bad foods (ice cream and fries and an Odwalla for dinner?) while watching a B-movie.

More juicy details to come as I get accustomed to my juicer.

Strawberry dreams and avacado wishes really do come true!

Hi veggie friendly readers!

Today isn’t much different than any other day in Seattle. There is a slight bit of mist in the air, fear of rain is lurking around every street corner as the city is covered in grey and lower 60s. Ahhh Seattle. Your grey makes me crave black coffee. I thought we were in June…I thought we were in the summer months…what happened to all that warm weather goodness?

Well, despite the weather’s thoughts to be fall/early spring the veggie produce available is actually believing it is summer. Tonight’s meal was thanks to two different magazines. Magazine one was an impulse purchase while at Lowe’s – Martha Stewart Living. Honestly, is there anything this woman can’t do? I’m so envious for the skills and quick thinking tips she supplies me. Tonight’s recipe from Martha was vegan, simple, and almost raw. Nicely done Stewart! Insert Bok Choy salad with cashews.

Thanks Stewart

The second magazine came in the mail because I’m a Vegetarian of Washington. The magazine contains veggie & vegan food ideas to kick-start the summer. Insert a raw avocado soup.

While visiting my favorite produce vendors at Pike Place Market, Sosio’s Produce I stumbled upon some strawberries that were beyond ripe and needed a home at a kind discount. Well thank you Sosio’s! These strawberries are a delight. What does one do with strawberries with such a last minute notice and a quick life-span? My mom suggested toppings for ice cream or yogurt…but we don’t have either of these in the apartment. If I was MegaGood I would dress some classy rabbits in hats, however, my rabbits have tall ears and cannot hold a strawberry hat very well.

I opted to mix them with some vegan marshmallows and let the sugar goodness collide.

And viola! We have a feast. Some items were better than others. But all in all we are full and ate well.

Salad spinner – that’s what’s for dinner!

I am the proud owner of two amazing items. The first item is currently in my possession and I will get to test it out plenty this week – a salad spinner! You might question this kitchen gadget, as I have for many years. However, eating salad every day and trying to keep the greens washed, packed, and staying long enough to make it worth my time has been a very hard challenge. I am hoping I can wash all the veggies up in one little swoop and spin spin spin spin spin until a salad creation has been formed.

Item number two will not arrive until 5-7 business days. A JUICER!!! Booyah! I am beyond excited for this new kitchen toy. This will probably keep me more than entertained with juices (veggie & fruits) while the summer evenings breeze away. My two first juices I want to perfect — Ginger lemonade and Beet-carrot-ginger. Another favorite is Apple-kale. Then on to the carrot juices so I can use the carrot pulp to make raw carrot cake. OOOOOO the list just gets longer and longer and longer. I am beyond excited.

The third item has not been purchased but is one I am contemplating with lots of seriousness. After attending today’s Farmer’s Market I talked to a vendor who interested me in the topic of a CSA. Timm & I are really thinking that this is a valid food option. This also came into mind after watching Food Inc. (Go watch it — especially if you are someone who eats food.) So, now the question is…which CSA do we join? One that delivers to us weekly? One that allows us to make pick-ups weekly? Do we need to purchase the two person box of veggies/fruits or opt for the four person box? I have so many questions. If you or someone you know gets food delivered from local organic farmers and can give tips and advice I’d love to hear it!

Until then, happy salad days!

Photos of food

You asked for it — or maybe only Amerwrites asked for it. Either way a few images of foods we’ve been eating.

salad for dinner = pretty red bowl holding on to bright greens for dear life

Raw Mushroom Soup, sounded better than it tasted...

Green Smoothie before it all collides

Green Smoothie After

Brighter Smoothie - different day but same idea

Favorite snack

Bean and quinoa burger - amazing!

Meal fail, just because a meal is planned, and looks pretty doesn't mean it will all taste good. Bummer.

Vegan BBQ with pals, best fest!

the goodness sans pals

No whey?!?

Hi. How are you? I do apologize…I think I’m going to blog daily and alas, life gets in the way. Things here have been quite great. I honestly have no clue what day of the ACT cleanse we should be on right now…because we have stopped. *GASP! It’s okay, it is a good thing. Timm and I are making the most of the days we’ve got with the summer weather and friends. So, if we find ourselves at a vegan BBQ we will eat. If we find ourselves craving chili dogs at midnight we will refrain, but make the next morning for breakfast (worst idea ever).

With the cleanse officially being over we are still taking serious strides into eating better daily. My morning still consists of a warm water with lemon juice and a green smoothie of goodness. Timm is having some Go Lean cereals with some fresh nut mylk made by yours truly! Yes, say good bye to preservatives in our overly processed breakfast mylks. For lunch we have a salad. And I’m honestly shocked that I’m not sick of eating salads every day. Monday – Friday we have salads. Whether for lunch or for dinner there is a salad consumed. I try to add and subtract different ingredients to make the salads different and have different flavors. WOW the variety pack of salads is honestly never ending. I had a great convo over birthday pizza and beer with a friend. We began naming all the different fruits, nuts, veggies that assist in the awesomeness of a salad. Example: pear & walnut, apple & almond, mango & avocado, adding herbs to the salad really is a wallop of a surprise, adding green onion to my salad is great — Timm would like no onions or celery to step foot in his salad dish. Pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins, dried cherries, craisins, alfalfa sprouts and then there are all the veggies….you see how this combo works. Also, cutting the veggies different is a huge help. I like peeling my zucchini and carrots into noodles so it feels like a big awesome pasta of raw veggies. If we do a stir-fry and have left over quinoa that is a huge added treat to the salad. Marinating mushrooms in Nama Shoyu, oil and rosemary adds a brilliant twist to the salad as well. Not to mention the difference between tomatoes you can add. nom nom nom

Other additions that we have taken on are exercise. This is new to me…and I like what I see so far. I feel better, my skin is looking better, and I’m sleeping like a log. Awesome! Neither one of us is claiming 100% being vegan at this point. I still want ice cream from time to time…but if there is a sorbet option or a rice/soy option I’d rather go that route and save my tummy the pain. I still like the thought of wheat, but my body can’t handle wheat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Maybe one meal…most likely dinner. We aren’t purchasing overly processed foods. We’re making our own items. We also are making some really tasty iced teas now that summer has begun. Give me a few more weeks and then I’ll start making breads! Watch Out! Or maybe just hold off ’till the winter for bread baking hobbies to commence.

Along the way in this ultimate food experience, I am understanding my body’s reactions to certain foods so much quicker and for that I am beyond thankful. I keep reading so many blogs of men and women who have had cancer or diabetes and switched to a vegan and/or raw diet and have found themselves in remission and off medicine. Having come from the midwest and watching many family members get strang scary diseseases I find this news only more than encouraging. I am passing on recipes and ideas to my mom weekly with hopes that she doesn’t become ill…ever.

Do’s and Don’ts from this week:

• Don’t laugh at your friends that stretch before playing dodgeball, they are more experienced than you and most likely didn’t have soreness issues the next morning.
• Do bring ‘athletic clothes’ not jeans to dodgeball activities
• Do eat every package of vegan skittles you come in contact with…well maybe not every package.
• Don’t eat veggie chili dogs for breakfast, even if your significant other tells you it is a good idea and he’ll do all the cooking.
• Do eat veggie chili dogs for breakfast if you have no desire to leave the couch for the day
• Do attend Northwest Pinball and Gameroom Show and play pinball and arcade games for solid five hours+.
• Do stretch before playing pinball for more than one hour solid
• Do cheer on gamers that are inducted into the hall of fame. YEAH STEVE WIEBE!!!
• Do try drinking some lemon juice and warm water in the morning before breakfast for a nice warm soothing start to the day
• Do visit goneraw.com for raw recipes
• Do take the images off your camera in a more timly manner to share with the masses
• Do avoid whey in products — it is milk too.
• Do try to make your own nut mylks.
• Do start pondering family activities for when family comes out west for Christmas!!! Millers takeover Seattle this December!