Thursday, April 4, 2013

Tasty Fettucine With Asparagus, Red Pepper and Avocado



This pasta dish is just marvelous!  And if you live somewhere that you can find farm fresh asparagus in early spring, it makes this dish simply to die for!

The vinaigrette brings out the tanginess of the red peppers, and the hearty avocados add a modest coating to the fettucine noodles.


Ingredients:

1 16 oz. package organic fettucine noodles
1 pound fresh organic asparagus (try to obtain local, farm fresh!)
2 organic red peppers
2 organic avocados
One half organic onion
One quarter cup organic olive oil
One half cup organic balsamic vinegar
Fresh ground salt and pepper to taste

Bring one large pot of water and one smaller saucepan of water to a boil.  Meanwhile, chop asparagus into one-inch chunks.  Dice peppers and avocados.  To dice the avocado, carefully cut around the entire  circumference with a knife.  Twist the two halves in opposite directions until they come apart.  Squeeze the half holding the pit until the pit pops out.  (If you rinse the pit off, it makes a silly temporary cat toy.)

Use a knife to cut long parallel lines into the avocado, then cut lines perpendicular to those.  Use a spoon to pop the cubes out of the skin.  Slice onion very thinly, then cut each thin slab in half and separate layers to create slivers.  Whip oil and vinegar together in a smaller bowl; adjust ratio of vinegar to increase tanginess if you like.  

When smaller saucepan of water boils, add asparagus and cook for only two minutes--no longer!  The water may not return to a boil, which is just fine.  You want the asparagus to be quite firm.  Drain asparagus, then place back in saucepan and cover to keep warm.

Cook fettucine in large pot of water until it’s al dente; in other words, until it’s just  done and still firm--not overcooked and mushy.  Pasta is healthier if it’s not overcooked.  

Drain pasta, then place in large bowl.  Add vinaigrette to noodles and mix until noodles are thoroughly coated.  Whip up more vinaigrette to add if you like.  Add asparagus, peppers, avocado and onion.  Fold mixture until vegetables are evenly distributed throughout the pasta.

If you want a little protein to accompany this dish, serve it with a light-colored organic or local semi-hard cheese on the side, such as raclette.  This dish also pairs nicely with white wine.  It easily serves six.

This dish is addictive, so there won’t be any leftovers--which is a good thing, because the avocados won’t keep anyway!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Put Wings on Your Dreams


Dreams are important but they need wings to take you where you REALLY want to be. Discover five ways to put wings on your dreams.


We Need Dreams

Dreams are important. Not the dreams you have when sleeping. I'm
talking about the dreams you have for your future -- the dreams that keep you
going -- the dreams that make each day worth living.

Dreams Aren't Enough

As important as dreams are, they aren' t enough. Why? Dreams don't take
you where you want to go. A dream needs wings -- to become a tangible
vision -- a passion that will take you where you REALLY want to be.

Bethany Hamilton lives in Hawaii -- her passion is surfing -- her dream
is to become a professional surfer. She spends every available minute
in the water, even home-schooling so she can have more time to pursue
her vision. At 8 years of age she entered her first major competition
taking the division championships that year. Bethany's dream had become
her passion -- a tangible vision.

When Your Vision Is Attacked

Bethany's vision was viciously attacked on Halloween morning, 2003,
when she was 13 years old. Bethany was lying on her board -- left arm
dangling in the cool water.

She remembers a flash of gray, pressure, and a couple fast tugs.  She
also remembers watching the jaws of a 15-foot tiger shark cover the top
of her board and her left arm.

The shark was gone as fast as it appeared.  So was her arm.

What It Takes To Keep Your Vision Alive

Fast thinking friends and surgery saved Bethany's life. Everyone --
including Bethany -- believed her surfing days were over. But within a
week her vision returned -- she rejected the fear and thoughts of defeat.

Less than 30 days after the attack Bethany was back in the water. Her
family and friends were there to cheer her on.

Her first attempts were failures. She struggled to push herself up with
one arm and keep her balance.  Her fear was that her dream would die in
the water that day -- the shark victorious after all. Bethany pushed
down her fears, gritted her teeth, and kept trying. And then it happened.

Tears rolled down her face -- the crowd cheered -- she caught her first
wave and rode it in.

The Dream Takes Wing

Only months after the vicious attack, Bethany amazed thousands by
achieving the unimaginable -- taking 5th at the 2004 National Scholastic
Surfing Association Nationals Championships. In September she struck
again, winning the Open Women's Division of the NSSA's Hawaiian conference
season opener. Having placed in the finals of the National Surfing
Championships Bethany has secured a spot on USA's National Surfing Team. She
has truly conquered her fears!

Five Ways To Put Wings On Your Dreams Bethany's story shows how to put 
wings on your dreams:

1) Your dream must become your passion -- a tangible vision.

2) Everything you do needs to fuel your vision.

3) When your dream is attacked, face the adversity squarely and choose
to overcome it with whatever it takes -- face your fears and do it
anyway!

4) Make necessary adjustments -- regain your balance -- and keep your
eyes on your goal.

5) Accept help when it comes -- with grace and gratitude -- let it fuel
your vision.

From Dream to Vision to Reality

Bethany's vision overcomes her fear of sharks and her continued
nightmares. Her story teaches how to create dreams with wings that push you
toward your life-goals. Follow her example and your dreams will become
reality, too.

Have A Great Day...

5 Simple Steps To Clone A Red Lobster Chocolate Lava Cakes


It's amazing how so many people love chocolate cakes. One of my favorite is the "Red Lobster Chocolate Lava Cakes". It's sooooo delicious!

If you are like me, I urge you to try this recipe when you have time. You'll fall in love with it. Trust me... :-)

So here it is:

Red Lobster Chocolate Lava Cakes

Number of servings: 6 persons

   Ingredients:

  Nonstick cooking spray
6 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
10 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 (10 ounce) package frozen raspberries thawed, puréed in blender
Fresh raspberries, optional
1/2 cup heavy cream, softly beaten
Fresh mint sprigs, optional
Confectioners' sugar for dusting, optional

   Instructions

1. Spray inside 6 individual custard cups or soufflé dishes with nonstick cooking spray; then set aside. In small heavy saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate, stirring until smooth. Add butter and sugar; stir until melted.

2. Pour chocolate mixture into large bowl. In small bowl, mix together flour, cocoa, and baking powder.

3. With electric mixer at medium-high speed, beat chocolate mixture; add eggs and flour mixture; beat about 6 minutes until thickened. Divide mixture evenly among prepared dishes; cover with plastic wrap. Freeze at least 2 hours or overnight.

4. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

5. Remove and discard plastic from frozen cakes. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, until edges are set and center is moist. Cool cakes slightly before inverting onto serving platters.


Enjoy!