Wishful Thoughts of a Borderline Insomniac

The insaneness that is my life is spiraling out of control in control, but I'm mentally taxed out. Woe is me! My current nonexistent  blogging seems to parallel my quality of sleep... pathetic and not enough!

If I could absolutely free up my schedule to do whatever I want, realistically I would:

• Dust off Rosetta Stone, Russian - and finally learn it
• Catch up on sleep
• Cook and bake! (My oven is finally fixed from this disaster)
• Record an original album of solos and duets with my husband
• Finish my 365 Photo Challenge
• Attend cooking classes
• Attend painting classes
• Spend the day at the bookstore and drink coffee
• Read books on war and government conspiracies
• Travel to neighboring cities to explore
• Watch the entire TV series of Stargate-SG1, Stargate-Atlantis
• Watch the entire TV series of the Golden Girls
• Watch the available TV series of Mad Men
• Plan romantic dinners and dates with my husband
• Decorate the dining room and living room

Oh the wishful thoughts of a borderline insomniac.

On another note, this weather and fall season is just divine. So perfect for curling up on the couch with a snuggie book, blanket, and a cup of coffee cuddled next to my babies (pets).

Pets on Furniture

Here are pictures of our sweet pets. They LOVE to get on the furniture. I've covered the love seat in my home office with a plush blanket. As for my desk, the cat loves to get on it. Very cute but can get annoying.

 { Jean-the-Cat preventing me from laptop use} 

 { Pretzel & Colette on the love seat }

 { Pretz wanting some treats }

 { Colette needs to be combed }

{ Colette as an original poser }

#12 - Hearty Lentil & Buckwheat Soup (VEGAN)

Challenge 12: Cook 100 New Recipe Dishes
Recipe: Hearty Lentil & Buckwheat Soup (Vegan)
(Recipe: 7/100)

{ Eleanor's Original Recipe - Hearty Lentil & Buckwheat Soup }

 INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup lentils (soak for 2-3 hours prior to cooking)
• 1/4 cup buckwheat (can be omitted but it's pretty good with it)
• 4 celery stalks chopped
• 2 medium sized carrots chopped
• 2 small potatoes cut in squares
• 1/2 box of Rich Brown Washington Broth (also available at health food markets)
• 2 cups water
• salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large pot boil the lentils in 2.5 cups of water. Keep adding water throughout cooking so it doesn't dry out. Make it as soupy as you want. Cook for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.
2. Add the buckwheat. Cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Add more water as needed.
3. Add the Rich Brown Washington Broth.
4. Add the chopped celery, chopped carrots, and the potatoes. Cook until vegetables are tender.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Eat soup alone or over rice.

Are you in the mood for a hearty healthy meal that will not increase your waist line?  This is a good recipe to get all your veggies and grains into your system to make you feel better and stronger. It is also a very good dish for a chilly day and soup night with the family. My husband and I believe in eating light for dinner. A bowl of this soup hits the spot. :-) Enjoy!

#12 - Chicken Breast Tocino Kebabs

Challenge 12: Cook 100 New Recipe Dishes
Recipe: Chicken Breast Tocino Kebabs
(Recipe: 6/100)

INGREDIENTS

- Chicken Breast (Organic) cut in squares (4 lbs)
- Mama Sitas Tocino Mix (2 packets) (Purchase at oriental grocery stores)
- Onions
- Wooden Kebab sticks


INSTRUCTIONS
1. Cut the chicken breasts in cubes.
2. Add the Mama Sitas Tocino Mix and stir. Marinate overnight.
3. Soak kebab sticks in water for 10 minutes. This will prevent it from burning.
4. Alternate chicken and onions on the kebab.
5. Cook it in the grill, rotating to cook all sides. Brush marinating mix to the kebabs while while cooking.

Excellent dish for my birthday! My husband truly enjoyed it. Awesome, awesome, awesome. Love this dish. I cant believe it tasted so good.

30 YEARS YOUNG!!!
I can't believe I'm 30 years young!!! It feels absolutely fabulous. Autumn was right about turning 30. I feel more sophisticated. I'm not even ashamed to admit my age. :-) Kept my 30th pretty simple this year. It started off with receiving abundant love from my friends in facebook who wished me a happy birthday, followed by my brother coming over early in the morning to greet me a Happy Birthday - also gave a gift. He joined us for breakfast as well. Dre cooked this amazing Russian Mushroom Soup, toast, and tea. I went shopping after breakfast - a good solid 4 hours of retail therapy. For lunch I cooked some kebabs, and for the afternoon, Dre and I went to see the Social Network movie (good movie), followed by a nice romantic dinner at Granite City. It was nice and mellow - and I absolutely loved it. A party is way too extravagant and would have probably stressed me out a lot.

So anyway, below are pictures of my husband cooking Russian dishes at my parent's house this past weekend. They were EXCELLENT dishes as well. I will cook some Russian dishes in the future and will put it on here.

#83 - Get My Passport Stamped

Challenge 83: Get My Passport Stamped
Date Stamped: 09.16.2010 (Ukraine)

Was going through my 101 Things and it just so happens that I needed to update a lot of my list as, done. Anyway, I finally got my passport stamped for the first time since 1991. I was really excited about that. My passport was stamped at the Odessa International Airport in Odessa, Ukraine.

Below are more fabulous pictures from Nikolaev, Ukraine that my husband took of the structures, us, brother, mother and father in law, and sister and brother in law:

Cooking Class With Chef Marc Anthony

Last Tuesday there was a cooking class at the Calvary church with Chef Mark Anthony. It was a combined cooking class and a lecture of healthy living and diet. He cooked some vegetarian dishes - pretty good stuff. I will showcase a dish I've learned when I cook it sometime this week. Can't wait. Stay tuned.

Side Note: I've been so slacking with those Ukraine pictures. Will find a way to post it in this blog soon.