Here is the recipe for my spicy broccoli puree! Note, I failed to take proper pictures other than my perfect bite, so all but the first picture are from Amazon and Pinterest just to give you an idea. 🙂
The perfect bite!
Here’s what you’ll need:
2 cups of steamed broccoli or broccolini if you can find it. I think it’s a bit sweeter, but either will do.
Reserve 1 cup of the steaming liquid for puree
Calabrian chili flakes or crushed red pepper flakes to taste
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 pat of unsalted butter
Add the steamed broccoli, seasonings and butter to your food processor. Pulse on high until you get a creamy consistency, adding in little by little the reserved steaming liquid being careful not to get it too watery.
Serve with your favorite main dish!
Do you puree your veggies? What is your favorite veggie dish!
I hope you all enjoy this recipe, and I look forward to a lot more recipes to share this year!
The girls asked what I wanted for my birthday this year. That was easy for me to answer since the only other obvious gift would be my husband’s return. I wanted one last girls day in the city!! We took the train down, ate lots of yummy food, and went to the Shedd aquarium. Here’s our day (this past Saturday) in pics!!
And at the end of the day, as we near the end of this deployment I can say this: we’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve fought, and we’ve grown. And we did it all. Together.
Thanks for all of the love and support this year. I am so very thankful. (Sorry for the repeat pics, but wanted to document the day). I couldn’t have asked for a better 44th bday minus my hubby being here with us.
What do you ask for on your birthday? Ever been to the Shedd aquarium in Chicago?
Deployments affect the entire family. Remember when I told you about my husband’s foot locker being delivered last week? While it was super exciting to see his stuff, I can honestly say after dragging in to our formal living room to get it out of the way that I didn’t think about it again. That is, until several days later.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while (and if not-keep reading!), you know that my other true love is named Sammy. He is my golden retriever, my best 4 legged friend, my soul mate, and my all around buddy. He was how I got through severe post partum depression, and I love him more than there are words to describe. He follows me (and the girls) everywhere, and is always there when I need a good cry. He listens to my every word (except when I am reprimanding him, then he just cowers) and loves me no matter what, even on the bad days.
Well, Sammy hasn’t done so well over the difficult months of deployment. It’s aged him, and he’s not the normal happy Sammy. He’s sad. He sleeps a lot, and he is in constant need of attention. So the girls and I happily oblige, as loving him makes us feel better, too. So even though we have all been hurting, we make time to give each other extra love…win/win.
But in this last week, he’s taken a bad turn for the worse. He won’t listen, he often refuses to go in his kennel, and he doesn’t leave my side from the time I walk in the door to the time I walk out the next day for work. For the majority of this past year, he’s slept in my older daughter’s room because her bed is smaller and he loves that feeling of security. (He’s used to sleeping between my husband and I, but since he’s left he’s only slept with me maybe 3 or 4 times.) But in this past week, he’s slept RIGHT next to me either at the head or foot of the bed. He’s touching me in SOME way. And I just couldn’t figure out why? Does he feel the giddy anticipation of my husband’s arrival? Is he not feeling well? Does he have a sixth sense about something that’s due to happen???
No.
None of those things are what is happening with Sammy.
He smells my husband’s scent from his foot locker. But he doesn’t know where he is, or if he’s even coming back. And as each day passes, his anxiety is increasing because he doesn’t understand. And realizing that this morning, made my heart physically ache for my sweet Sammy.
I am praying the scent from the foot locker, fades…that, or my husband returns quick enough to heal poor Sammy’s broken heart.
Have your pets ever reacted poorly to a family member being gone for an extended period of time?? How did you comfort them?
You’ve got that song in your head now, don’t you…ROFL!!!
Gosh…where do I begin.
Wait. I know. MY HUSBAND IS SAFE ON U.S. soil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Does it get any better than that? Gosh, I can’t even tell you the weight I feel that has lifted from my heart/shoulders. I received this picture from a fellow Army wife late on Saturday evening and I couldn’t. STOP. STARING. That smile says it all…and that smile has been missing from my life for a year now. But I feel the effects it brings to my life by looking at this picture, so pardon me while I give it another look…<3 But I digress….LOL!
My daughters asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I immediately said one last girls trip to the city before their Daddy gets home. So, Saturday the girls and I went to the city for the day. I had pre-planned this before knowing of the anti-Trump and women’s marches so I was a little apprehensive after seeing all the riots in D.C. after the inauguration. Thankfully everything was peaceful and had disbanded before we got downtown. We spent the day eating, walking around the city, and catching the sites at the Shedd Aquarium. The weather was beautiful and I couldn’t have asked for a better day.
I’ve reached the final stage of this deployment, which I like to call the “nesting phase.” I am cleaning like a mad woman, and recleaning what I’ve already cleaned just to make sure it’s clean. Yes, I know my husband could care less about anything other than the fridge being stocked with beer and wine, but hey…I couldn’t help it. Both our fridges are scrubbed, cleaned, and checked all expiration dates. (Can you tell I work in a lab? LOL). I also scrubbed (with the help from Soph) my bathroom, and vacuumed and dusted the entire house. Don’t worry, I am sure I’ll do it 3 more times before he comes home. And while I can’t say what day he’ll be home…I can officially say it will be LATE NEXT WEEK. Yes…I said NEXT week…all the feels!! WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
My next post is going to go over the highs and lows of this deployment. I have learned so much about myself and others, as well as made some wonderful memories with my daughters that will last a lifetime. I will forever be grateful to those who not only are there to celebrate the highs, but have carried me during the lows…for these are priceless gems in my life. #foreverfriends
Thanks to YOU ALL for joining me on this year long journey. I truly appreciate you hanging around even though this blog is for running and recipes as well. Real life took over, but you know what? I wouldn’t change a single thing.
The final countdown is ON until I am snuggled safely in my husband’s arms, and I CANNOT wait! ❤
Today is my birthday. My husband has been gone for 315 days. 45 weeks. And this. This “holiday” is the last one he will miss. (At least for a while!).
That took the sting out of his absence I think, and I can say I had a wonderful birthday. My coworker’s spoiled me and I felt so very loved. My daughters made me cards and pictures and we enjoyed a lovely dinner tonight.
But one moment in particular stood out for me, and it was when I read a comment from my blogger friend, Jane over at 50statecanuck.com wrote. She was admiring my strength over this last year and said I was the trunk that held my family together. And it was in that moment I realized that all this while I HAVE been strong. I finally really have started to believe it. But more so, I have such gratitude for those that helped water my tree. The small handful of gardeners that made time to add sustinence to my life will be held close to my heart for a lifetime. Pic from Pinterest
So here’s to a new year, and another ring in my tree.
Gosh can you believe we’re in the final countdown of this deployment?? I mean…We’re counting DAYS people!! Ok, we’ve still got weeks in there but I can finally see the end.
I also finally got what I think are the right shoes. Ladies and gentlemen meet my new Nike Pegasus shoes! Aren’t they pretty!? Haven’t had a chance to test them out yet but soon!!
My birthday is Tuesday and when my daughter and I got home from our fun day of shopping and going out to eat, THIS was on our front door step.
Yup. That’s my hubby’s trunk from overseas!!! Wooohoooooo!!
Also, it wouldn’t be a good post without pics of my beautiful daughters. These two ladies have been my rock over this last year and I couldn’t have done it without them, and the help from a couple close friends.
Lastly. This quote rings true as this deployment ends.
I’ve learned a lot this last year. Who my friends are. How strong I am. And that above all else, my family WILL get through this time apart. I couldn’t be more proud of my daughters and my husband and his troops. May God continue to watch over us all.
Thanks all for your amazing love and support over this last year! I’ll never forget it!!
What shoes do you run in?
Have gone through a life changing event and realized you don’t have as many friends as you thought?
I don’t make resolutions…I think it’s silly to wait until a specific day/new year to resolve to do something that you could do “today.” I do like to make a list of sorts though, to encompass my goals for the year.
Last year my goal was to survive 2016. And I can proudly say, I DID. Amidst broken vacuums, running toilets, blown out furnace (while living in Chiberia), my dog going through severe depression, teenager angst, pre-teen wanna-be angst, holding down a career where I supervise one of the largest pathology labs in the greater Chicagoland area, and maintaining a house…yeah. I survived. It wasn’t always pretty. There were meltdowns and crying fits a many. In about a month I hope to wash my hands of the stress of this year, and focus on all that I achieved. But I wont count my chickens before they are hatched. We still have a month or so (give or take) to go before my hubby returns. And then we will have the reintegration period which I know can be hard. But I digress…
THIS YEAR I’ve got a few goals in mind. First being, training and running the Chicago marathon in October. I swore I’d never do that race again, but, well, it’s Chicago and it’s the 40th anniversary of the race so I couldn’t help myself. We’ve already got a hotel booked so that will help tremendously with the logistics of packet pick up and getting to the start line which was one of the main reasons I never returned to the race that “popped my cherry” so to speak. The race where I became a marathoner. It was such a life changing day, and even though my sister won’t be running this time with me physically, she’ll be there with me every step.
My sister and I at the finish line of the 2012 Chicago Marathon
Secondly, I plan on really getting back in the kitchen. I’ve ordered a couple text books, one from the Culinary Institute of America, and one on sauces that came highly recommended from a few Chefs I know so that I can better learn more about this passion of mine. Sure, I am a good cook, but if I ever hope to open my own restaurant (pipe dream more than likely but it doesn’t hurt to try)one day, I need to hone my craft. The ultimate goal is to be in the food industry in a creative aspect be it cooking, plating, photography so I think studying these two books will really help.
Lastly, my goal for this year is to do my best to live each day to the fullest. Slow down, take deep breaths, let ALL the anxiety this last year has caused me GO and move forward with my wants and needs, even if just a little. While I have done my very best to do this over the last year, I know the last year was lived for my kids and my husband alone. Any needs or wants I had, took a back seat. Everyone needs a little something for themselves, so I am looking forward to a little ME time again. I just haven’t figure out what that ME time will be yet, LOL. I’m hoping more running, more cooking, more writing, and lots of time with my hubby and family this year. More focusing on what I have, not what I don’t have. More light, more traveling, more sunshine both outside and in my heart. You know…all the good stuffs I’ve sort of shadowed this past year.:-)
What are you goals for the year? Do you make New Year’s resolutions?
While I’ve taken a step back from blogging, I still continue to read some of my favorite blogs-even when I can’t comment. A lot of people are writing their 2016 year recaps, and that got me thinking about all I’ve endured this last year while my husband has been deployed. Immediately, “Lost and found” came to my head which is where the title of this post came.
A lot of things were lost this year.
I’ve lost a lot of friends. There. I said it. While harboring anger has been my method of choice for the last 9-10 months, I know I need to just get it out of my system and move on. When the news of my husband’s deployment came, the outpouring of love and support I received in the weeks prior to his departure was a God send. I thought, “Ok, with all this support I will get through this without a hitch. I GOT THIS.” But after he left, as the weeks and months passed I can say I was more than shocked how many friends basically fell off the face of the earth when it came to being in my life at least. Because my ability to go out, go running, pretty much do anything but work and raise my kids 98% of the time ceased, so did said friendships. And that made me so very sad. BUT…I’ve got a small handful of friends who didn’t give up on me, and continued to support me even if it was just via text or phone calls and I NEED to focus on that. The harboring anger is too hard. While I will forgive, I will say that I won’t allow my heart to be hurt anymore in the future. I can’t ever forget…this year has been far too hard to ever forget.
I’ve lost my temper more times than I care to admit. Fits of anger and sadness overcame my body so much so I’d find myself curled up in a ball on my bedroom floor, sobbing. And I didn’t like that feeling of helplessness at all.
I’ve lost my motivation to run, cook, or do any of my favorite things. What little free time I have is spent cleaning, taxi’ing kids and just being around for them when they need me has taken everything else out of me. My oldest daughter has found her solace and peace with her friends, and I get that. She’s 17. But my youngest wants to be with me, all the time, and while I know a part of me knows that is because her Daddy is gone, the other part of me is celebrating because she WANTS to be with me. I haven’t been able to focus on anything else.
I’ve lost my ability to make excuses for people. No explanation needed.
I’ve lost hope, on more occasions and in more situations than I care to admit.
And in a way, I feel like I’ve lost my hubby and oldest daughter all in one year (even though I know that’s not true) and the emptiness that statement brings to my heart cannot be described in words. I’ve lost him due to this deployment, and I’ve lost her as she starts gaining more and more independence. I miss them both, dearly…
But I’ve also found a lot of things.
I’ve found that I am tougher than I thought. Despite a couple breakdowns, both physically and mentally I have battled through a lot of things this year. Broken snowblowers, toilets, furnaces weren’t going to beat me. Add in car accidents, multiple nannies quitting and raising two girls on my own and I give you a whole new level of stress that isn’t for the weak.
I’ve found that I’ve got a few amazing people in my life. Between my neighbors who are like family to me, and a couple pretty amazing friends that didn’t quit reaching out to me even when times were tough, and I’d say I am pretty blessed. My friend A. has texted me every single day, for 42 weeks now…that’s 42 weeks she’s set a reminder to tell me goodnight “NNT” and allow me the opportunity to reach out to her if I needed to because we all know how rotten I am about asking for help or reaching out. She’s driven in a blizzard to have dinner with me, because it’s so few and far between that we are able to get out. She’s been there for me. And that speaks volumes. My friend J. has called, texted, and FB’d me as well as doing sweet things like leaving mums on my front porch this fall. My family has also been amazing, calling, texting, and my Dad has been awesome about helping me around the house when they come to visit. There are others, too, of course…but these are the standouts that didn’t give up on me and for that I’ll be forever grateful.
I’ve found that I can function on just a few hours of sleep. And while I may look like a train wreck, I can say that I have wrapped 95% of the Christmas presents because I stayed up late last night doing so!
I’ve found that running and cooking will always be there. While I’ve only run one race this year, I still have a love for it and look forward to training for the Chicago marathon next year. My husband will return, and my cooking will commence as I am sure he won’t be as appreciative of soup and sammiches every night, LOL.
I’ve found that you have to pick your battles. So my kids aren’t star athletes and they don’t get the best grades. So what? Their happiness is the most important thing, and I remember how hard it was to be a teenager/young girl. The best medicine is always support and love, even if it’s tough love, all while motivating them to do their best in everything they do.
I’ve found that not being on social media as much is something I need to do for my own happiness. Because it’s too hard to hear how people are always too busy for you, when you are seeing pictures of them out and about with all their other friends. Social media can suck like that. And I don’t need that in my life. So I’ve started trying to not check it during the day, except maybe at my lunch break. Baby steps, right?
I’ve found that even though my oldest daughter and I butt heads, we love each other. That little woman is truly 90% me at her age, and that terrifies me because of the struggles I had growing up. I often remind myself of how I felt at that age, and try to approach things at a different angle so she doesn’t withdraw even more. This of course after I’ve flown off the handle which let me tell you, NEVER works when trying to communicate with a teenager.
I’ve found hope. Nearly as quickly as I lost it. Every. Single. Time. And that counts for a whole lot if you ask me.
I’ve found that I really can…do hard things. I may not always do it right, or do it well, but I haven’t given up yet.
While I will happily bid 2016 goodbye in just over a week, the things I found truly outweigh all that was lost.
Thanks for all of the kind words lately. While I’ve struggled with things to post about, I thought I’d share a thankful post in pics. Here goes. I was lucky enough to host thanksgiving and my sisters family came to spend the day with us. The hubby called. TWICE. Lastly I took my daughters to the city this weekend where we are all the food and caught all the sales. The picture of Sophia with Santa is heartwarming. See, she asked him to bring her Daddy home safe. He even got teary. And of course no thankful post would be completely without a pic of Sammy.
How was your thanksgiving? Did you cook? What are you thankful for?
Movin' it with Michelle 