August 2011

Foodbuzz sent me a coupon to try Sabra hummus as part of the Tastemaker program, now I have had Sabra many times before but I have really made many dishes with hummus. I thought of an idea of a build your own layered dip bar. Everyone likes different things and having a personal dip for each person is a great way to make them happy.

Ingredients

Sabra Hummus (I used Spinach and Artichoke)

1 roasted red pepper (I used an organic jarred one), diced

1/4 cup chickpeas

1/4 cup diced tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped olives

1 tsp thyme

Pinch Red Pepper Flakes

Other toppings suggested: salsa, black beans, shredded cheese, chopped nuts, artichokes, cooked spinach

Directions

In an individual ramekin or bowl, place about 2 tbsp of hummus on the bottom.

Add in toppings for each person in layers, for my dip I added chickpeas, diced tomatoes, chopped olives and then topped each one with a bit of thyme and a few red pepper flakes.

Everyone gets to layer to their satisfaction with the toppings they like. I created one for me and the boyfriend and put them in the fridge for about 20 minutes until we were ready to eat.

I served this with brown rice and flax seed rice crackers, and with a few carrots, broccoli, and snow peas.

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My life has done an 180 degree turn in the last 10 months, one day I was living the life I thought I wanted and then it changed. Change sucks, I lost weight, stopped caring about some of my passions and was just having a hard time getting up everyday and living. Then something happened. I changed my perspective. My mind went from gray and cloudy, to partly sunny and finally to beautiful bright sunny skies.

I decided to stop overanalyzing everything, to let go and make the life I wanted. I have worked hard the last 6 months, and I mean really hard. At forgiving, letting go, being more emotional, giving up control, learning to just enjoy a moment and not have to plan the next 10 years. The plan was to have no plan and just go with life. I did that, and that is hard for me to say! I lived life on my terms. I went on horrible dates and laughed about them (a few of the stories I’ve told, people are just shocked by how horrible they really were), did a lot of listening to my gut, I found a new job that challenges and rewards me, I nourished long term friendships and made some amazing new ones.

The feeling of I have to do this and I have to do that isn’t as strong. I still keep myself pretty busy but I take time for myself to just unwind, to write, to cook, to take a yoga class and to just live life. No longer do I beat myself up for missing a workout or eating something unhealthy. I just go with it. I live a healthy lifestyle and continue to strive towards even better overall health. The boyfriend played a big part in all of this, he pushes me in the right way to just let go. He talks through everything, we have had more serious conversations in the 6 months we’ve been together than I ever had in previous relationships. Opposite of every other relationship, he isn’t my “type” and we have very different interests in life but I felt something the night I met him. It may not have been love at first site but it was a deep connection. Everyday I remind myself to be thankful, for how incredibly strong I am, for how hard I have worked, for the amazing people in my life and for having the capacity to change my perspective.

I have my moments where I feel anger, sadness, and frustration about my previous situation and where my life is now but it is a process and I am working through it all. 1 month, 1 year and maybe even 5 years from now I will still be working towards happiness but I know it is much more achievable now. Living a life filled with my passions of fitness, food, travel, and wine, amazing people, unique experiences and a positive outlook.

This guy. The guy who has changed my life. A hard working, kind hearted, funny, spontaneous, sexy, and the kind of a guy who would drop anything to come help you. Otherwise known as the boyfriend, who I have yet to say his name on the blog to maintain a tiny bit of privacy. There are some scary people out there so I never say the town that I actually live in, the boyfriends name, where he lives, and the name of the company where I work. I don’t need a certain few crazy and destructive people getting involved when they really don’t know anything about my life!

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It was one event packed weekend, a wedding and a 66th Anniversary and 90th Birthday party. I didn’t have time to blog at all, being going pretty much all day Saturday and Sunday!

Starting with Dan and Carrie’s wedding, they had the most perfect day for an outdoor wedding. Perfect temperature, no rain, bright sunny sky! Such a wonderful day! They definitely put their individual spin on it, with an outdoor ceremony in their backyard in the gazebo that Dan built and a reception in a nearby town.

Congratulations to Dan and Carrie! The reception hall was a bit dark and it was hard to get good pictures but at least all the outdoor ones turned out well. I managed to make it to 10:30 on Saturday night and finally gave up and went home since I was dealing with a bit of pain and still recovering from surgery. It was fun to spend a few hours dancing and getting to know the boyfriends friends a little better.

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