gazpacho

The internet has been out for a week AND my computer isn't holding charge for some reason.

(Uncle Chuck, HELP!)

So I have been a bit quiet over here.

Sorry.

Take this awesome recipe as an apology.

Crystal's Gazpacho

• 6 tomatoes
• 1 cucumber (peeled)
• 1 large red onion
• 2 green peppers
• 3 green onions
• 2 cloves garlic
• parsley and cilantro to taste (I use a handful each)
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil

1. You are supposed to peel the tomatoes, but I never have and I think it is delicious.  However if you don't like the tomato skin you can easily peel them by boiling a pot of water, drop the tomatoes in for about a minute, then immediately submerge them into an ice bath.  The skins should slip off very easy after that.
2. Put all of your vegetables into a food processor.  Blend to your desired consistency.  (We like to keep it a little chunky.  Also, I like to blend each item seperatly and then mix them together in a seperate bowl.  This way I can control how smooth each ingreedient is.)
3. Add your red wine vinegar and mix well.  Then add your olive oil SLOWLY and make sure you mix it in well!

Happy Monday!

SWEEP!

Reasons why today is totally awesome

• The Mister and I were able to get all of our grocery shopping done BEFORE the crazy thunderstorms hit AND before Clara had any type of meltdown!
• Buehrle and I were able to squeeze in a 3 mile run before the storms hit as well!
• On of my favorite bloggers "liked" one of my pictures on facebook!  

(I might of acted like a school girl with a crush after I saw this.  The Mister might of also made a ton of jokes at my expense.  It was worth it.)

• I found out that costco sells beets that are precooked and just beets!  No preservatives or chemicals! 

 (This means I can make this easier!)

Juicing and Smoking

We bought a few new toys this weekend.

They are pretty fantastic.

At least mine is.

This picture is a pretty good preview of what our weekend consisted of.  

Except the vodka.  

Surprisingly enough, that did not get opened.

(Cheapest Costco visit we ever had!)

The Mister got himself a food saver.  His original plan was to take that giant pork loin and have a nice slow day with his smoker.  

Reality was, the smoker was frozen shut.  

So the ten lbs of pork were cooked in the oven instead. 

(Which is a crying shame!)  

HOWEVER, he did get to use his fancy-schmancy new food saver to help him have all sorts of delicious lunches.

(Has anyone ever used a foodsaver before?)

 It took him forever to get all of the seals on the bags done and it "overheated" about every three bags.  

Any words of advice for us?  Is it just a scam of a machine?

This is my new toy!  

I've been hinting to the Mister about wanting a juicer for quite some time now.

(He never quite got the hint.  Until I said the actual words, that is.)

It is fantastic.  

Every morning Clara says, 

"Juicy juice, Mama!  I want some Juicy Juice!"

(I didn't realize the fruit actually explodes.  Clara and I were laughing like madmen in this photo.)

My favorite recipe that we have come up with is this:

Peach Mango Madness

• 2 Peaches
• 1 Mango
• 1 wedge Cantaloupe
• 1 orange

1. Peel the orange and mango.  
2. Cut the cantaloupe from the rind.  
3. Take the pit out of the peaches.  
4. Juice

This concoction is sooooo creamy and delicious! 

I absolutely can not wait till peach season comes!

(Hey, Girls.  Remember my delicious peach margarita's I like to make in the summer?  Well I do believe they just became yummier.  Come on summer!!!)

In other news.....

I start my triathlon training today.  

Operation stop being chubby is in full affect!

If you are interested in training too, this is the schedule I am following.  

Hope you are having a great week!

Chinese Pepper Steak/Wednesday Music Break, Up the Junction

I have been in my kitchen for the past two weeks (since the anti-gluten dairy-free diagnosis.) 

I think I have finally found a recipe that everyone in the family loved.    

Chinese Pepper Steak

• 2 tsp oil (I used grapeseed)
• 1 tsp sesame seed oil
• 2 onions diced
• 3 green bell peppers diced
• 6 garlic cloves minced
• 2 T chopped fresh ginger or 3 tsp ground ginger (I used ground)
• 2 lbs sirloin steak cut in strips
• 2-3 T gluten free soy sauce (I swear it tastes the same)
• 1 T cornstarch mixed in 1 T cold water

1. Heat oil in our wok or pan (M heat)
2. When oil is hot add in your onion, green pepper, ginger and garlic.
3. Stir-fry for about 3 minutes.
4. Take vegetables out of wok and set aside.
5. Add meat to wok.  Stir fry til the meat is cooked well enough for your liking.
6. Add vegetables back.  Add soy sauce.  Cook together another 2-3 minutes.
7. Shut off heat and add cornstarch mix.  Mix well.  Bring mixture back to a boil and simmer for another 1-2 minutes, until the liquid starts to thicken up.

Serve over rice.

Enjoy!  

Thinking of you today, Ms. Julie Lyn.

This one is for you.

  Loves you.

Squeeze – Up The Junction by VEVO