Simple Food

From the recipes I've provided so far, it doesn't look like I eat necessarily "simply".  But the truth is, I pretty much stick to the same foods on a daily basis, sometimes depending on what is in season, what is cheapest.  This is especially true when I try a combination of something or a flavor that I really like.  Most people who know me well know this about me and can vouch, so ask them.  Whoever they are.

I started to get interested in Dietetics when I went to college, where my free time was spent researching recipes, nutrition, fitness, you name it.  It wasn't until I started really getting into the schooling and the professional issues that I realized my passion.

One of my goals in college was to find out what I would be happy doing.  I discovered a lot about myself through writing pages and pages, first starting with my interpretations of philosophy, religion, our existence on this earth.  And I have never been bored in coming up with hypotheses on different concepts and then discussing those ideas with people.  I have always been open to others' theories and I love to ask questions, so it usually makes for really interesting conversation.

I love hearing other's perspective because it  not only opens my eyes to new ideas and thought processes, but it helps me solidify my own.  And I respect all views. To each his own, right?

I loved working for WIC because I felt like I was giving to those who are in need.  I was often frustrated, though, because of the restrictions the USDA puts on this program.  I would often educate my clients on how they can save money in the most simple ways, leading to their children actually liking fruits and vegetables.  Some of my theories, for those who were able, considered learning to grow your own food, and especially getting the kids involved.  Learning to can and store your own food as a fun hobby to learn as a family.  Also buying in season fruits and vegetables because they are often much cheaper and they taste better!  And if possible, supporting local farmers.

I could easily go on and on about this topic on the why and how, but I will contain myself.  This time.

Much of my passion for good, clean, and fair food is from that of Slow Food.  I learned about this movement in Italy, when I studied there 3 years ago, and I knew right then and there it was something I needed to be involved in.  It encompasses all that I believe and want to work for, and it allows me to theorize, write, interpret, educate, respect, have compassion, continue learning and gain fulfillment in my job!

Slow Food started in Rome, Italy as a protest against putting in a McDonald's at the bottom the the Spanish steps  (fyi-the McDonald's went up anyway, I saw it!).  It has turned into a Movement that has spread to every country and now every state in the US, and there are even many local chapters in each state.  Their idea is to slow down the meal--and slow down as a way of living too.  They commit to and have respect for the community and the environment.  If you haven't heard of it, I would recommend even just reading about it--it will truly open your eyes and may even provide for a changed perspective.

Again, something I could talk extensively on, but I feel like there will be ample opportunity for that.

The University I am going to in Italy for my Master's in tied in with Slow Food.  I will be doing an internship in the last 3 months of my schooling, and I am hoping this will give me the "foot in the door" I need to be part of this movement--in some way or another.

I look forward to the continued education and further awareness of not only my Italian heritage, but the agricultural heritage that has led me to my stated simple food.

Slow Food unites the pleasure of food with responsibility, sustainability, and harmony with nature. Carlo Petrini, Slow Food founder and president

Turkey & Vegetable Burgers--with Guacamole!

First of all I need to apologize that I don't have any pictures for this one!  I actually took great pictures of this, and deleted them from my camera, thinking I had put them on my computer--however, I did not put them on my computer at all.  And I deleted perfectly good pictures.  Ah, such is life.

This was really fun to make because I knew the different flavors and spices together would be heaven on a plate.

They are both extremely easy and the directions are short and sweet.  I hope I gave enough information on the recipe, so if not--just ask!

Here are the recipes:

Turkey & Vegetable Burgers

1 pound ground turkey

1 medium zucchini, grated

1 medium carrot, grated

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme

Tabasco sauce

salt and pepper

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.  Form the mixture into 1/2-inch patties.  Heat oiled skillet over medium heat and cook patties for about 5 minutes per side, making sure no trace of pink remains. Serve with Guacamole, listed below.  

*I also recommend grilling these burgers, yumm!

Guacamole

2 medium avocados

1/2 medium onion, chopped

1 large green chili pepper, chopped

10 (or so) cherry tomatoes, quartered

fresh cilantro, chopped

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon orange juice

salt and pepper

Mash the avocados with a fork, add remaining ingredients.  Refrigerate for about 3 hours; Serve on top of the Turkey and Vegetable Burgers!

I love these turkey/veggie burgers.  The water from the vegetables I think added some moisture to the burger, so they seemed juicy, even though they are made from turkey.  It might be a lot of vegetable for someone who doesn't like the idea of vegetables in their burger, or even the idea of vegetables at all!  I loved the balance, but if you are hesitant, I suggest using about half the grated vegetable it calls for and simply add more meat.

The guacamole was to die for.  I have nothing more to say--it was that good. 

I had this with spinach, and it was perfect.  I put lots of fresh spinach on the bottom of the plate, then burger, then guacamole on top!  I hope you enjoy!

And then it snowed...Again

Well, it's no surprise I am talking about the weather turning cold again.  It seems it is included in everyone person's conversation, and rightly so.  However, I have chosen to be in Northern Minnesota, and I am not going to complain about the weather.  I am going to embrace it.  And realize that it is part of God's beautiful creation I talked about last time.

It seems like whenever there is a large storm--or in some cases in North Dakota, a flood--it is my cue to get out there and explore.  Back in college at UND we had a couple of times where the warnings told us to stay inside because of the cold/wind, where apparently frost bite could occur within seconds.  Of course, it's fun to have a snow day and stay inside, watch movies, drink hot cocoa, make popcorn..oh yeah and study.  But for some reason it gives me the itch to get outside and investigate for myself.

It is undoubtedly harder to motivate in the winter.  I would be happy if it lasted 3 months for cross-country skiing and then it was over.  But that's not how it works.  When I lived in Wisconsin the weather wasn't as harsh, and it was really fun to go out on a clear night, even if it was just for an exploratory walk after work.  It was often pitch black, but the shining stars were awe-inspiring.  Sometimes that's all it takes--is to just get out there.  It can open up our eyes and our minds to more than we knew possible.  It can refresh our spirits and guaranteed, relieve any stress.

It is good to push ourselves a little, and even sweat in the winter.  It's always that much more comforting afterward to snuggle up with a warm blanket and cup of hot cocoa.  And, of course, it's fun to cook/bake both before and after these little excursions.  I am going to include 2 really good recipes in my next post.

Sometimes we just need a little push!  And it shouldn't be a push to go do something miserable like running on a treadmill, staring at the wall.  But it should be a push to go out and enjoy the elements, leading to positive emotions and hopefully a much needed epiphany that can come through after.  Much of my greatest ideas have come from my excursions, runs, walks, skis--this blog being one of the epiphanies--aren't you glad?

Most importantly, it should be FUN.  It should be something you want to do and that feels good to you.  For some people it's just shoveling.  For some it's just playing outside.  Walking.  Running.  Skiing.  Talking on the phone.  Listening to music.  Listening to the sounds of nature.  Whatever your fancy--alone or with someone else--let it be something that brings you happiness. 

So here is your push.  Get out there: go find the meaning of something, alleviate stress, breathe in the fresh air, embrace the cold!  You won't reget it, I promise.

Woods

Going to the woods is going home.  John Muir

This simple thought is what popped into my head today when I was out in the middle of the woods.  I thought about how I have never felt scared or alone among the trees.  The sounds are what especially draw me in: the breeze and the birds, sometimes the sound of woodpeckers and owls and squirrels surrounding me.  At times, especially in North Dakota, the sound of the river; or in Minnesota, the peaceful wave that comes in to the lakeshore.  People listen to CD's to mimic this because the sounds of life are so amazingly calming!

I must say that the place that gives me the most peace is the Boundary Waters, where most of life is untouched and exactly how it should be.  Where life exists because of Mother Nature herself, who has produced the natural beauty that surrounds the land. There is no greater feeling than in the canoe, as if part of the water, the trees and the dirt.  The fresh air literally reviving your body back to purity.  This is when I feel like all is right in the world, and there is nothing more I could even ask for.  This is when I am most in the present and can thank God for the most beautiful gift of life.  Where I can close my eyes, breathe in, and most of the time have tears well up in my eyes.  It is then that I remember who I am and what I am here for.  It is when I am most thankful for the love that has surrounded me my entire life.

These trips to the Boundary Waters have always been with my Dad.  And this is another reason I sometimes get teary-eyed.  I have been blessed with the most amazing and loving parents a girl could ask for.  Everything I am is because of those two.  But it doesn't just start with them.  It started with my Grandparents, and their parents, and beyond.  It started with all who have been inspirational to them, taught them how to live life to its fullest, be the best person they can be--and most importantly, to simply Love.

I was just talking to my Dad about our ancestors from the Ongaro side.  I could not believe in hearing that the first Ongaro (that we know of) was born in 1609 in Gandino, Italy--this tiny village we were fortunate enough to visit the last time we were in Italy.  What is amazing is that there have been Ongaro's in Gandino since then and no one ever left until my Dad's grandfather came to Hibbing in 1910! (more specifically Carson Lake or Leetonia).  My grandpa Frank Ongaro lived and passed away in Hibbing, and my Dad now lives in Hibbing.  So there are two places that the Ongaro's have held onto their history--Gandino, Italy and Hibbing.  This gives me such an appreciation for our descendants, and how much the Ongaro's respect their name and their culture.

It is incredibly important to know where our families came from.  I would not be here, in America, if my family didn't make the sacrifices they did.  My great-grandma "Baba" (My grandmother Ongaro's Mom) was sent away to Leetonia (right outside of Hibbing) from her beautiful Croatian village.  She spent a month on the bottom of ship in the worst conditions imaginable to get here.  I have been to her homeland in Croatia, and I would not have wanted to leave!  And she didn't--she hated it here at first!

To know our roots us gives us an even greater appreciation for our life today--and these are some of the thoughts that come to me in the middle of the woods, among the beautiful life that surrounds us.  I thank God for my family and for the life I have been given.  I think of the freedom I have to go wherever I want, do whatever I want, be whoever I want.  I have such a respect for my family, and I will never forget where I came from.  I will spend the rest of my life honoring all those who have sacrificed so I could have a better life.





In the beauty of nature is where I am rejuvenated and feel like there is nothing in this world that can bring me down--as long as I keep coming home, to the woods.

Orange and Black Brownies



I was going to add a picture of black beans, but they looked like deer droppigs, so I instead decided on a different angle of the brownie. 


It was really funny making these in my house with my family around.  No one knew what I was doing with the black beans.  I put the unused beans in a container, and my brother thought they were some concoction of cooked beans and was about to eat them before I told him they were just the leftovers from the can.  I've seen many recipes for black bean brownies, have heard they are good, and I thought now was a good time to try them out, seeing as though I have about 20 cans of beans lying around.  Literally.


I definitely like baking more than cooking.  And I haven't pin-pointed why yet, but I think it might be because I like to experiment with the flavors in baking.  Also probably because I get to lick the spoon after putting my concoction in the pan to bake.  I mean who doesn't like brownie batter?  Yes, I am ServSafe Cerfified, and know that I would get in big trouble from my instructor Georgianna for even thinking about licking the spoon, but I can't help it!  I feel like I am wasting when I don't--or at least that's what I'll keep telling myself.


Anyway, I know black beans in brownies aren't exactly appetizing sounding.  Everyone was a little hesitant to try them once they were baked, myself included.  Last week I tried to add a whole can of pumpkin to brownie batter and the end result was pretty pitiful.  But these were far from pitiful.  They were, in a word, superb.


Next time I will most definitely add more orange zest and/or extract.  I love the chocolate/orange combination.  Not as much as I like the chocolate/salt combination.  This Salty Dog Bar is my absolute favorite chocolate.  Though, I am really not picky when it comes chocolate.  It's funny because I think last time I was in Italy, chocolate is what kept weight on my Dad and me.  All the walking/biking and running around we did.  We would try to find the cheapest bar of it, and we were pretty successful bargain shoppers.  And the wine there is cheap too!  How can you go wrong?


Back to the recipe.  I think the brownies were a success, and with Valentine's Day tomorrow, I bet these would definitely yield brownie points.  Ha.  Especially if you cut them into a heart shape, or if you used a stencil to sprinkle heart-shaped sugar on top.


Here is the recipe:

1/2 cup cocoa

1/4 cup + 2 T canola oil

2 cups white sugar

1 cup canned or home-cooked black beans

4 eggs

1/2 small orange peel after hand juicing (I used the juice for cranberry muffin recipe)

2/3 cup rice flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp orange extract

Puree beans + 2 T liquid in food processor.  Mix cocoa, oil, sugar, black  bean puree and eggs until well blended--I used a wisk.  Place the orange in the food processor and process until finely ground.  (I didn’t even clean out the food processor after pureeing the beans.  It’s all going in the same bowl, right?)  Mix flour, salt, and baking powder together, then add to wet mixture.  When it’s all mixed, I added a splash of orange extract for good measure--I am guessing it was about 1/2 tsp.  Grease 9x13-inch pan. Pour the batter into the pan.  Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  

You can just use orange zest for the "small orange peel after hand juicing," but I wanted to tell you exactly what I did.  The results from what I did worked, so I wanted to be thorough.  I also would probably have used a different kind of flour mixture than just rice, but it worked surprisingly well.  You could also substitute something else for the white sugar, and I usually do, but I figured I would splurge on the white sugar this time.  


My Dad joked that my kids someday are going to get all of their nutrition in the baked goods I make with all of the added fruit, vegetables, and now beans!  Who knew you could get protein and fiber from a brownie?  Enjoy!

Comfort

I have many role models, men and women.  One person, easily, has been Mother Teresa.  Her life and her person has always inspired me.  She lived her life selflessly for others, most known for the less fortunate.  She is most known for providing for the poor, but what truly amazes me is her impact on myself and millions of others without even knowing.

I've always loved the thought of our unknown influence on others.  I first think of the TV series How I Met Your Mother when they refer to the "chain of yelling".  Basically, how if someone yells at you, you pass along the yelling to someone else, and it eventually comes back around to you.  Put any word in the "chain of ______" and it works.

Have you ever noticed how you can be in the best mood and someone else's sour mood can immediately turn yours 180?  I have not only experienced this on both ends, but I have witnessed it in friends, family, co-workers.  I have experienced and seen this happen in positive ways though as well.  Some days I rely on someone to pick me up, turn my sour mood 180.  It has taken me a long time to realize this, but we do need each other as human beings.  We can't go through this life alone.  We also can't have a cause without an effect.  Again, that idea of a chain, and in every case, a connected chain.

Mother Teresa was an undoubtedly steadfast source of comfort to others.  She believed that all people are on a spiritual path that brings them closer to God.  She comforted others by sharing her belief in God's unfailing presence, and always reassured people that they are not alone.

I was never lucky enough to meet Mother Teresa, but she definitely influenced my way of thinking.  Her words alone are simply amazing.  But this reminds me how important it is to keep reading and learning from people of the past and present.  I am easily inspired by others, and it will always be important for me to continue this way of learning.

I am now and always will be on a spiritual journey; one that has included roadblocks along the way.  These roadblocks have given me opportunities for learning and growing, bringing me closer and closer to God.  Mother Teresa gave others comfort and influenced our lives, but it all came from God.  Thus my realization that He alone is my ever-lasting source of comfort, and He is passing it along in His "chain of comfort."

Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. -Matthew 28:20

Homemade Rice-A-Roni

Hello dear hearts and gentle people.  This is my very first post!  This blog is going to be quite random, but awesome at the same time.  I am going to post recipes, my thoughts on life, and my experiences living in Italy for a year..and whatever else I feel like!

By the way, I have been corrected on our generation's misuse of the word random, and I am well aware of that.  I think it's kind of funny, actually, so I still use the word at random. Ha! It's all part of that "Gen Y" mentality, right?

Well, I haven't left for Italy yet, but I thought this recipe would be a good way to get ready for the food I will be eating there--I am guessing lots of rice!  For those who don't know me, I have been eating a gluten-free diet for over a year now, and have never felt better.  In a later post I will get into details of the diet and why I eat gluten-free and all that.  Gotta give you some reason to come back and read, right?!

Today's recipe I literally put together in 10 minutes, and it was ready in 20.  It sounded good after a cold cross-country ski.  I got the idea, surprisingly, from an advertisement for chicken broth.  I added a little of my own twists, and think you can too if you so choose. I love it because it really is packed with some good nutrition.

My parents both tried it and really liked it, and the first thing my Mom said was, "It's like Rice-A-Roni, homemade!" Hence the title.

Before I give you the recipe, you need to know that I am not big on measuring exactly, so I am giving you somewhat estimated amounts.  For this recipe and those that follow, please keep that in mind!  And don't get mad at me if it turns out terribly.  I never said you can't blame me though--that I can handle.

Ok, here is the recipe:


I added freshly grated Parmesan and spinach for eye-appeal

 1 3/4 cups broth
1 tsp. Herbes de Provence*
1 tsp. Chef's Shake Blend*
3/4 cup uncooked brown rice
1 1/2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat the broth and seasonings in a medium saucepan (about 2 qt pan) until it boils.  Stir in rice and spinach, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for about 20 minutes (or until rice has soaked up broth).
Stir in cheese, and serve.

*Note: you can substitute Italian seasoning and maybe a pinch of pepper for the seasonings I used. Or throw in whatever you think sounds good!  Here is the site for the spices I used: The Spice Hunter

To adapt for a lactose free diet, you could omit the cheese.  It honestly doesn't need it.  I tried it before adding the cheese and it was still really good.  If you are worried about sodium, you could use low-sodium broth or just use water as your base.

I was also thinking mushrooms would be good in this, but I just really love mushrooms.  Next time I am going to try the wild rice harvested by my cousin Erik.  Any other ideas for add-ins/substitutions?

We had this with the infamous Italian Porketta (though ours was Turkeyetta).  I will get into Porketta at a later date.  I feel like it's special enough for it's own post.
If you want to read ahead, here is the Wikipedia explanation: Porchetta
And also, the local Fraboni Sausage distributer sells it here in Hibbing!  See: Porketta in Hibbing

Enjoy!