***Winter Feasting***

So, I really haven't been posting a whole lot this winter. My life feels pretty "non-postable" right now. We're not doing our Supper Club anymore, my best friend, Josh, just moved to Denver, it's been snowing a lot. I haven't really even been able to wrap my head around gardening when there is still 10 inches of snow on the ground. We needed that moisture so badly...I'm grateful. 

What I have been doing is cooking. And eating. Chris and I are (mostly) doing the Paleo "plan" as we like to call it (instead of "diet"). It's been really great. It's gotten me out of a cooking rut. The gluten free nature of it leaves me sleeping better, with more energy, less brain fog and feeling full longer. Oh yea, and I've lost some weight. It definitely takes food planning though. If I skip my Monday prep day, I'm scrambling for the rest of the week. The Paleo Plan includes lots of veggies, some fruit, nuts, seeds and healthy meat and seafood - think grass fed, cage free, antibiotic free - all of that good stuff. It's mainly about avoiding grains and processed carbs like crackers, pasta, tortillas. It's supposed to be the "caveman diet", what people ate when they were hunters and gatherers. I mean, I'm obviously not going to be foraging berries for my breakfast but I am going to be more conscious about what I eat. And the coolest thing about it is that I FEEL REALLY GOOD. 

Raw kale salad with apple, radish, dried currants, almonds, goat cheese 

(not technically on the plan) and a lemon mustard vinaigrette. 

Made one for dinner and another to have for lunch the next day.

A whole roasted chicken with sweet potatoes and an AWESOME fresh herb, 

lemon zest, garlic, olive oil, parmesan sauce you drizzle over everything. YUM.

See recipe below if you care to replicate. Sorry for the torn/taped together recipe. Let me know if you have any questions.

Raw broccoli salad with almonds, red onion, dried currants, 

sunflower seeds, lemon, greek yogurt.

snack/lunch

Grass fed beef burger patty with stinky blue cheese, sauteed mushrooms 

and almonds. Green salad on the side. SO GOOD!!!

Chicken with garlic, thyme, parm and capers. 

Mashed sweet potatoes and acorn squash with almonds on top.

Homemade paleo cookies! 

Homemade paleo crackers! Sesame seed, sunflower seed, coconut flour.

Breakfast on a snow day.

Snacks for the week.

Not very pretty but DELISH. Goat curry (braised for 4 hours) 

with coconut milk, tomato and cauliflower.

And finally, Smokefest II at Kevin's house yesterday. We smoked cheese, garlic, salt, almonds, trout and salmon. MMMMmmmmm.

<<<*** 4 DOT ***>>>

I've been playing Mahjong for about a year now with my "Mahj" group. It's such a blast. We eat great food, drink wine (which doesn't always work in your favor), chat (which also can work against you) and play as many games as possible of Mahjong. It's a tile game that originated in China and it's SO good for your brain. These photos are from Ed's house, the token male in the group. He's also a potter and always gives the host of Mahj night a bowl from his pottery collection. This night, since he was the host, he gave us all bowls. He's swell.

Pre tile "dump"

Delicious potluck food

Ed's pottery in a very cool breakfast nook

Ed's fridge

Ed in front of his giant kiln

Rita and Clara, our youngest member

The group in the pottery studio, minus me and Ed

My winning hand!!! Mahjong!

""""***ERIN***""""

This post is dedicated to my sassy friend, Erin. Erin has been living in the wine country in California for the past 2 years. Chris and I visited her last summer and where she lives is truly magical. Her folks live in SE Kansas and so for the holiday season she decided to come back to the Sunflower State for a month! She's been staying with them a bit and us a bit and other friends a bit. We've had SO MUCH FUN. We celebrated the New Year together, spent many a night at 715, had a sweat lodge, played with essential oils, went to a movie premier and just hung out and talked for hours. Oh yea, and drank wine. Erin and I have known each other for 12 years and have had lots of adventures. Every time she comes in town, we fall right back into place, like we've never been apart. Erin is a beam of bright light. She's fun, sassy, positive, adventurous, loving, encouraging...she's everything you'd hope for in a friend. I love you Erin! 

Our holiday party

With Alicia at our holiday party

With another super longtime friend, McKenzie at Pachamama's

With more awesome longtime friends: Erin, Cat, Me, Gina, McKenzie

 before we went out for sushi and a crazy nice of dancing

 

New Years Eve!

Movie premier bathroom pics

 Playing with essential oils in front of the fire 

after our sweat lodge with Josh and Alicia.

Visiting me at The Merc while I was working. 

She worked there for years before I did.

Eating dinner in front of my fireplace.

715 with Erin, Chris and Kenzie

 Ya know what the cool thing is? She's back in town. Our birthdays are next week and are 1 day apart. The weeklong birthday celebration begins tomorrow! Yahooooo!!!!

***A not-so-cold winter***

Here's just a little smattering of photos from lately. We drove the back roads to Wichita to spend Thanksgiving with Chris's family. We had two turkey dinners with both sides of his family, visited the Nifty Nuthouse (an insanely huge candy shop), went to the Donut Whole (a Wichita legend) and spent quality time with his family.  It was a really great weekend! When we got back we bought our Christmas tree and decorated the house, which is always one of my favorite days of the year. And at the beginning of this week I did a 3 day cleanse which included a sweat with Josh in my sweat lodge, lots of juicing, an acupuncture session, eating well and drinking copious amounts of water. It was great! 

Frying the turkey in the garage.

Chris with his parents and siblings.

Staci, his sister, driving a tractor.

Love this picture of Chris's folks from back in the day.

Christmas tree shopping! We always go to the same place.

The sunset right before we got in the sweat lodge was stunning.

Carrot, celery, apple, ginger. 

Haven't shown you pics of these guys in a while. 

Chi chi and Holly Go-Lightly are our outdoor kitties.