Hail Kale

It is harvest time for kale and we are cooking up some fun and simple summer dishes. One of our first dishes that we used our kale in is "Sweet Pepper Pasta Toss." Here is what you need to cook it:

1 (8 oz.) package farfalle (bow tie) pasta

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pinch dried basil (used fresh from garden)

1 medium red bell pepper, chopped

1 pinch ground cayenne

1 medium yellow bell pepper, chopped salt and pepper to taste

1 cup roughly chopped kale (i used more than that)

8 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes or al dente; drain.

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in red and yellow peppers, kale, and garlic. Season with basil, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables are tender.

In a large bowl, toss cooked pasta with skillet mixture. Sprinkle with feta cheese to serve.

How the Garden Grows

While we were on holiday, our wonderful neighbor took care of our potted plants. He is a gem. Our garden grew by leaps and bounds. I didn't recognize it almost. We left when it was rainy and cool, but as soon as we crossed the Utah border it must have turned up the heat. The plants loved it. I am sorry to report that the Okra could not hold out for the warm weather. It pined for the deep South, and now it is simply part of our pine mulch. I should have a squash to batter up and fry this weekend. I will be no good. mmmm

One of the clematis plants is in full bloom. It is still a baby, and I love that the bloom has a passion flower look to it.

Brady Bunch Dreams Come True

My friend Andy came to visit from Italy. We went to Indian Country and did the Grand Circle. We left from Denver and traveled to Bryce Canyon in Utah. From there we went to Zion Canyon, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, through Monument Valley, Goose neck Canyon, Newspaper Rock, and into Moab for the Arches. Phatveggie's Brady Bunch dream of seeing the Grand Canyon came true. It was an awesome trip. It was during the phase of the new moon so the stars were beautiful in the clear sky. We were able to see the Milky Way. Due to light pollution in the cities, many people in the world cannot see it. The Salt Lake City Astronomical Society were at Bryce Canyon with telescopes. There were over 40 telescopes out each night. Scott said after the first night, "I have looked through more telescopes in one night than I have in my entire life." We looked at the planets Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter. We were able to see many star clusters and other galaxies and a triangle star formation with a triangle star formation inside it called the Stargate. I had never been to a star party, and I crashed it with a blaze of light. Apparently you are not to use white light, but red light instead. I had my headlight on and before i could round the corner I was being screamed at to turn my light out. Well hell I didn't want to trip on anything, but I stumbled around in the dark like everyone else. The next night I was prepared. I was not a virgin anymore.

Phatveggie's Garden

I am back! We are busy in our yard this Spring trying to get control of some weeds and plant some more perennials to our butterfly garden. We are also planting our annual veggie garden. In Colorado May showers bring summer squash. I can't wait. I will be posting throughout the summer to let you know what is successful and what is a flop. Some of the new items that we have included are celery, kale, and okra. I miss having southern fried okra, so I found some that will produce in a shorter time. Keep your fingers crossed. I will try to take some better pictures when we have completed more of our projects.

Happy Bowling Night

We just got finished bowling tonight. We bowled our asses off. It was position bowl off night and we were bowling for 3rd or even 2nd place. I won't know until later this week how well we did but we did move ahead of the team tonight. Now I am not gloating that is for sure, because I am very inconsistent in my game.

Today when I got home from work, I logged onto the computer like I always do. My husband came around the corner just as the screen came up. My desktop was the above pic. It is my level 60 toon on WOW. I was shocked not to see my desktop, and even more surprised to find my night elf priest dancing nude in front of Ironforge....especially since I last played this toon in the Western Plaguelands.

Java Time in the A.M.

After I posted my entry last night, I received a warning from Norton that it had blocked an invader. I didn't think too much about it. Then this morning I woke up and thot..."OMG I have been tagged as a radical." Well I do have a tendency to get on my soapbox after I have had almost a whole bottle of wine and some political chat. The funny thing is that I started this blog because I was inspired by all the knitting blogs that I follow. This blog is going to be about my life. If I am knitting, cooking, gardening, bowling, gaming, reading or ranting, then that is what it will be about. Oh yes! My husband and I like to cook some mean ass dishes. So...today I will start with a good recipe from Phatveggie's Kitchen.

Rice Flour Waffles

Preheat waffle iron. Combine in a mixing bowl

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 scant cup milk (we use soy)

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons mild vegetable oil

Sift together

1 cup rice flour, available at health food stores

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

Gradually add dry ingredients to the moist ones and stir until fairly smooth. Bake in hot waffle iron.

Lordy child you are going to have a good day if you start with these crisp waffles! I got this recipe from The Dairy Hollow House Cookbook that my cousin from Little Rock, AR gave me. She knew I would enjoy a fellow Arkansan cookin' and I do love Crescent Dragonwagon.

I get excited about simple things in life. I am all about my new coffee mug that we bought at the Renaissance Festival this year. It is a handcrafted wooden mug made by these guys in Silver City, NM. Even though my husband and one of my best friends are potters, I have abandoned the other mugs...for now ;-)

Gay Republicans come out wherever you are!

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Originally uploaded by tljden.

First of all let's make it clear that pedophilia does not equate to homosexuality.(period) So that is enough said about Foley and his scandal.(for now ;-) Let's move on to other news that happened this week in D.C. At the swearing in of Dr. Dybul as the new U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Secretary Rice refers to the mother of Dr. Dybul's partner as "mother in law." Please help me out here! Is this the same administration that wants to ban same sex marriage?

Now we all know if there are some positions of power out there...then honey, there are some of our gay brothers out there filling those positions. As a bleeding heart liberal, I do not understand how gay men can be Republicans...but bless their hearts. I do know that the Republican apparatus has some powerful gay men greasing those cogs. If this Foley mess does anything, I hope it sheds light on these men and the hypocrisy of the Republican party concerning homophobia. Who knows...just maybe the next Republican Presidential candidate will meet with the Log Cabin Republicans (unlike Bushy). More importantly maybe it will shed some light on those good ole "family values" that they just can't keep tooting their horns about. Now Was Foley responsible for No Child Left Behind? Don't go there!

Was Ben Stein right when he said last week on the Sunday Morning Show that the media should not focus so much on this Foley issue when Korea is testing nuclear weapons, or when there is genocide still taking place in Africa? Well of course....BUT we all know Sex trumps all other stories in this nation of enquiring minds.

Phatveggie Gargoyle

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Originally uploaded by tljden.

We went to St.Louis City Museum last weekend while we were visiting our son. Normally I am afraid of heights but for some crazy reason I felt safe climbing in mid-air with only metal mesh to protect me. It was good to let the inner child come out and play.

Back on Track

After three weeks of gorging on whatever fit my fancy, I am back at Weight Watchers. I was so scared to get on the scales. To my total disbelief I had only gained 3.8 lbs. Needless to say I was never so happy about gaining...that is gaining so few pounds. Well I am motivated again and counting my points. I just wish that the beer that I drink during Wednesday night bowling didn't have so many pts.

Day One

Tonight I am setting up my blog. This is all new to me...so here we go.