My only year-long resolution is to make a few specific monthly resolutions/goals each month. (Does that sentence even make sense?) So, with that thought in mind, here are my January resolutions:

1) Learn to knit. Simple, right? 

2) Work out for at least 30 minutes every day. This is part of a 100-day challenge, but let’s start with January, shall we?

3) Be completely wheat-free. This is part of moving toward a “primal-eating” way of life. But again, let’s start small and move from there. Baby steps, folks, baby steps.

4) Be less cynical/scornful. And this comes from just noticing the level of cynicism and scorn (that may be too harsh of a word, maybe it’s more of a smugness about my opinions) that had crept into my life lately. This may be the hardest, because it’s dificult to quantify and specify. Let’s say that the cynical bit will involve me being more open in my life to spiritual things and experiences, and the smugful (new word!) thing will involve me being less derisive about what others are doing/liking/thinking/eating/etc. You do/like/think/eat/etc. whatever makes you happy. What I do/think/like/eat/etc  is neither better nor worse than what you do/think/like, it’s just different. And vice-versa. Whatever blows your hair back.

5) Put more love out there into the world. That’s not specific enough for you? Ok, how about I say that I will find a charity or cause to support with my time. There’s also the whole walking-through-the-world-with-an-attitude-of-grace thing.

Ok, I think those 5 will do for the month. Ready, set, GO!

who drives you around back roads for hours and tells you over and over that it will be alright

who drops what they are doing and comes to find you when you are lost

may there always be someone who sends messages that remind you who you are

who sees you when others can’t

who stands by you when others turn away

may there always be someone who tells you that you never need to find out what you would do without them

who never freaks out when you ugly cry

who tells you that you can be better, do better than what has come before

may there always be someone who refuses to leave you

who keeps no record of wrongs

who loves you with a transforming grace

who loves you even when you don’t deserve it

especially when you don’t deserve it

may you know deep down that love never fails

and may you then give in abundance what you have been given

Well, after rereading that, I’d like to add another quick lesson. This time, it is a life lesson: It’s “Russ and me” because “me” does not work without the “Russ and”.  Amen. The end.

Because of today’s life lesson, the Music Monday post is a love song. I’m ALL ABOUT the love today, friends.

And here is the song that he says reminds him of us (he is a rock and roller through and through, folks. While I can come up with a bazillion love songs from just about every genre of music, he has a rock and roll heart. [oooo, Eric Clapton reference. Coincidence? I think not!]):

“The wonder of it all is that you just don’t realize how much I love you”

cue guitars and bring me a tissue!

xoxoxoxoxox,

jane

By the way, have I mentioned that I’ve given up sugar and alcohol for Lent? It’s making me a little crazy. Just letting you know that as a warning. The Communion assistants at church keep their eyes on me now. They don’t like me taking that extra long drink from the common cup. I also spend lots of time perusing recipes for sweet baked goods. And I keep opening the pantry just to gaze at the box of Samoas sitting there on the shelf. Food porn! (I just mentioned Communion and porn in the same paragraph. I am doomed. Step back from the screen in case the lightning should travel through the interwebs!) I’ve been joking that Easter breakfast is going to be Samoas, jelly beans and bourbon. Only lately, it’s been less about joking and more about planning out how to make that actually happen…

Anywho. Sorry. Awkward.

When I took the calzone dough out of the freezer this afternoon, I wasn’t all that excited about plain old pizza calzones for dinner. Then I had a revelation! Why not make a southwestern calzone with sweet potatoes and black beans as the filling? Why not indeed!

The calzones just sitting there waiting for their turn in the oven.

And here is my calzone just sitting there waiting to get in my belly!

The recipe is not a real recipe, more just a mishmash of what I had here. Next time, I will make sure to have cilantro on hand and maybe a nice roasted poblano. I didn’t have either, so this is the bare bones recipe. But not half bad, if I say so myself!

Here ’tis:

One recipe of Bittman’s pizza dough, cut into four pieces after it has finished rising

1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

half an onion

cumin, few shakes

chipotle chili powder, about 2 teaspoons

salt

pinch of cinnamon (secret ingredient!)

salsa (I used some Frontera salsa. I love it!)

oil to saute the onions

shredded cheese (I used cheddar jack)

Preheat oven to 350.

Microwave the sweet potatoes. Let cool a bit and mash with a fork; set aside. Heat oil in a skillet, add the onion and season with a bit of salt. When the onions begin to soften, add the cumin, cinnamon and chili powder. Let them bloom in the oil. Add the black beans and let them cook in the spices for a bit. Add the mashed sweet potatoes, stir to mix. I added a touch of chicken broth here to help make the mixing easier. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings.  I had to add a bit more cumin and some salt. Set aside.

Roll out one of the balls of dough into a big oval-y shape and add the black bean/sweet potato mixture to desired fullness on one side of the dough; make sure to leave room at the edges to close the calzone. Top with salsa, if you like, and cheese. Fold dough over itself and add a bit of water to the edge of the dough. Seal the calzone by folding the edge over on itself, pinch together.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes.

Serve with extra salsa and sour cream, plain greek yogurt or crema.

The filling made more than enough for 2 calzones. I plan to eat the rest for lunch tomorrow! It would easily fill all 4 calzones.

Hope you enjoy!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I hear the Samoas calling my name. I’m just going to go do some heavy petting with them. Nothing below the boxtop.

xxoxoxoxoxox,

jane

Suffice it to say this whole cd rocks my frickin’ socks off and if you happened to be trapped next to me when I’m singing to this at the top of my voice, I apologize.

Listen to it, love it and then buy the cd for yourself! Do eeet. No arguments!

Cuz I been runnin’ now for days, pickin’ up the pieces of love…

xoxoxox,

jane

Happy anniversary, Mike and Jamie! I wish you many, many more happy years together!

xoxoxox,

jane

P.S. The lead singer of Orleans, John Hall, was later elected to the U.S. Congress. He served two terms.

Yep, I love it!

So, here is why I got what I did where I did. I will tell it once, and then you won’t hear me speak of it again, mmmkay?

Mmmkay.

This is one of the West African symbols known as adinkra. In the country of Ghana they can be found on cloth and walls, in pottery and logos. This particular symbol is for Mother Earth. I picked it for so many reasons, it might be easier to make a list, in no particular order, just things this symbol means to me. Fasten your seatbelts, kids, it’s about to get all spiritual and hippie-esque up in here.

• It is the symbol of Mother Earth-In yoga, we are reminded to ground ourselves into the Earth, to feel the Earth supporting us. Feel the steadiness and steadfastness of the Earth below. This symbol reminds me that the Earth was created, with all of its beauty, for me. It reminds me that when things get crazy, I can rest assured knowing that the Creator is there supporting me and when I ground myself in the love and energy of the Creator, I can do anything.
• It is the symbol of a woman’s body. With all of its beautiful round curves. It reminds me to cherish this beautiful body I’ve been given (I’m not talking beautiful in the mainstream sense. But it is beautiful because I have been perfectly and wonderfully made.). The woman’s body I have with hips and thighs and other round, soft parts. Ahem. I was made this way. My body is meant to be curvy. When I start to complain about my body, I will look at my tattoo and remember that women’s bodies are meant to be softer and curvier. Women should be owning the beauty that comes from being exactly what the Creator has made us to be. Our bodies are made this way to bring new life into the world. Our bodies are beautiful because through them we experience the beauty all around us.
• It is two hearts joined together. It is the Earth made from Love. It reminds me that the reason I’ve been put on this planet is to fill it with as much love as possible.  I am to love my neighbor as myself.
• It is two hearts joined together (yep, I know I’ve said that already). It is, “my beloved is mine and I am my beloved’s.”  And that is most certainly true.
• It is two hearts joined together (yep, I know I’ve said that already. <–and that too!). It is my two boys who I love with my whole heart. (They are the most wonderful children to ever walk the face of the earth. Want to see pictures?)
• It is two hearts joined together (I’m sensing a theme here). But the fact that one is resting on the other is important to me because when life gets turned upside down, we need each other to rest upon. I want to be that for others and I can tell you that for me the heart that I rested upon (still do!) is the best friend I’ve ever had in my life. She knows who she is.
• It is where it is, because I wanted to be able to cover it with clothes when I felt it was appropriate but I wanted to be able to see it everyday.

There you have it, my friends. I promise not to bore you any further with it. I just plan on enjoying it for many, many years to come.

If I haven’t frightened you away, please return for a recipe on the morrow.

xoxoxoxox,

jane

Beginning the assembly

We made this pastry cream. We MADE it. True story.

Just look at that sponge cake, willya?

Ike begins to pour the chocolate glaze

Isn't it beautiful?

Slowly, it spreads

mmmmm, chocolate

Boston Cream Pie-yes!

Sam! Let us cut the thing first!

Plate-lickin' good!

Find the recipe here. 

xoxoxo,

jane

Enjoy, my sweets!

 And finally-

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