Change IS hard....Duh!

My actual water bottle from a good friend
who knows me well

I heard on the radio last week someone saying that "even if polar bears cease to exist, humans will, and isn't that what matters?" Or something like that.  I was like what the actual fuck?


Change is hard, but unavoidable.   People can either avoid it, which in my opinion causes stress and anger, or be a part of it, which will cause stress and anger.  Wait.  What?  Change can be ugly and messy at first, but eventually if we are a part of that change, it can be tolerable, and maybe even a bit beautiful (sometimes...not always).  I am not really selling it, but I don't have to.  It is inevitable.

Right now, one of the hottest topics is climate change.  It is scary to think that our way of life needs to change so we can protect our planet.  I ask myself "what am I willing to do beyond turning the water off when I brush my teeth?"  I drive an SUV....am i willing to change that?  I travel a lot as my family lives across the continent.  Am I willing to change that?  We took our kids to Europe this summer, knowing that jet fuel is a huge contributor to ruining the environment but we still did it.  Why is this?  I don't have the answer.  But it is coming.  It will be ugly and messy and uncomfortable but we need to try and be a part of it and figure it out.



I am currently reading Brene Brown's book "Daring Greatly" and she talks about not sitting on the sidelines and the importance of being uncomfortable and vulnerable in order to have the "courage and willingness to engage". Reading this made me think of Greta Thunberg and her recent visit to Alberta, which is causing quite a bit of discomfort.  Everyone has an opinion.  Some are angry, others are skeptical, while some welcome her and want to hear what she has to say. She talks about the global crisis, which  trickles down and creates a lot of uncertainty and discomfort in our own personal lives. I for one do not want to sit in the cheap seats!  It may be quiet up there, but you can't see anything, can't hear anything, and nobody can see you. If we are not willing to get messy and feel uncomfortable, what are we here for?


Whether you believe in climate change or not (seriously people!), we all live on this earth, and while it should be in our nature to protect the planet we live on, it is not easy to think about the changes that are coming.  Our planet  - it is not our right to be here, it is our privilege, especially if you are in North America (okay Canada!).  So whatever you choose to believe in - whether it is a force from above or below or a step to the left (or god forbid a step to the right)....whatever it is, we are living on this earth together.  Climate change or not, we should respect where we live, and protect it.  I can't say that I will embrace all that is coming with open arms, but I want to be a part of the mess and the chaos and ultimately the solutions.

I want to do my part to protect our planet.  Full disclosure I am going to Mexico in February 2020 but will pay that extra carbon offset...for now.

One of my favorite quotes seems both timeless and relevant.

be the change that you wish to see in the world - Gandhi 


https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/questions-about-carbon-offsets-flights-answered/

My new favorite soup with my new favorite spice....

This week I decided to try (again) to make a delicious broth - Asian style.   I have attempted this before, but it has never quite turned out.  When I think of an Asian soup....whether it is a delicious pho, or a savory wonton soup there is always that sweet and spicy taste with hints of ginger, garlic, sesame, soy....and that one ingredient that escapes me. 

Lets back up to last week when I was at Co-op, and ran into an old colleague of mine selling a product that she created.  It is called Seven Spice Chili oil.  It. Is. Amazing.   It is the missing link to making this broth go from good to absolutely amazing!

So for my wonton soup, here is what I did (remember I am not an exact kinda recipe gal!):

1) In the morning before work, I threw a chicken carcass plus some of the leftover juices from said chicken in my slow-cooker.   Add water, close the lid and put on low heat for 9 hours.
**Kitchen-hack tip: when you roast a chicken, throw the carcass and all juices in a bag and into your freezer

2) When I came home I strained out all the broth and separated all the meat to add back into the soup (no sense in wasting).   I put the broth in soup pot on the stove and began creating.....

I added:

• fresh minced garlic
• fresh grated ginger (Kitchen-hack tip from my friend Kelly, freeze your fresh ginger and it will last forever and is easily grated without peeling!)
• Soy sauce
• Sriracha 
• Sesame oil - to taste...i probably added about 1 - 2 tsp
• Fish sauce  - just a few dabs
• Seven Spice Chili oil (did the mild)  
• thinly sliced cabbage (I used Napa cabbage and used about half)
• sliced fresh mushrooms (maybe used about 6?)
• wontons (cheated and used the chicken cilantro ones from Costco)

Garnish with fresh cilantro, fresh grated carrot and green onions once served.

Absolutely delicious and full of flavor!   And seriously...check out this spice as it is so versatile...once you try it you will need to add it to your permanent grocery list!   

www.sevenspice.com

Quick-ish Sirloin Stir Fry

Sometimes I feel like a super-hero.   Sometimes I feel like a super-hero who needs a vacation.   Today it was a bit of both.  Even though it has been minus 30 for almost the past 2 weeks and I am in desperate need of a beach vacation, for an icy cold Monday...I was pretty super-hero-ish.  Here is a snapshot of my last 24 hours.

Last night:  Took out a piece of sirloin steak from the deep freezer and put in the fridge for a nice slow defrost.

This morning:  Got up at 5:15 am, went to work out; got home, showered, changed, had a coffee and muffin (yes, homemade) and put my lunch together.

Before work: It was the best time cut the steak as it was partially frozen and cut beautifully into thin strips.  Made a kick-ass marinade and refrigerated til I came home.

Home from work: Made rice in my favourite kitchen appliance, the instant pot!  Add equal amounts of rice and water, high pressure for 4 minutes, slow release, no fuss, no overflow, no questioning "is it done?".   It's.  Just. Done.

Hubby fried the steak.

I chopped and sauteed veggies.

Voila!  A meal that is easy and delicious!  My 18 year old telling me "Mom...this is good AF" says it all!.


Here's the recipe as best I can remember.  Those who know me know that when it comes to recipes, I look stuff up and then I make stuff up.  


For the marinade:
1/4 cup olive oil
a few dabs of sesame oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
3 - 4 cloves minced garlic
a few squirts of nice seedy mustard

Pour the above over sliced sirloin steak, cover and refrigerate til you get home.


Veggies  - basically anything will do...this is what I had in my fridge
Fresh green beans - chopped
broccoli -chopped
zucchini - quartered and chopped
1/2 red pepper - sliced\
2 - 3 cups fresh chopped basil


Chop and cook the veggies
Saute veggies in a little oil.  Throw in some chopped garlic and a dab of sesame oil.  Once veggies are done, add about 2 cups - 3 cups of chopped fresh basil so it is just wilted into the veggies.


Cook the steak
When ready to cook, add 3 - 4 teaspoons of cornstarch to the meat and fry in cast iron skillet (or any fry pan).

Time to Eat!
Add the beef to the veggies.   The cornstarch + steak will make a nice sauce.  Add a bit of water or white wine to the pan that originally had the steak...*deglaze the pan and add this mixture to the veggie/steak mixture.  YUM.

Fill your bowl with some rice and top with veggies/steak.

Garnish ideas:  Chili flakes, Sriracha, cilantro...whatever!

*de·glaze

Dictionary result for deglaze

/dēˈɡlāz/

verb

1. dilute meat sediments in (a pan) in order to make a gravy or sauce, typically using wine.

   
   

   "deglaze the pan with the white wine"