Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Lee's going gluten free

In an effort to naturally relieve my body of any complications due to my lovely autoimmune disorder, I am going to experimentally go gluten free for an undetermined amount of time. When I'll start, I don't know. I have a feeling this won't last long, or last at all, but I figure it's worth a try.

So I have printed off my first gluten free recipe. If anyone else wants to try this, let me know how you liked it:

Gluten Free Tropical Chicken Recipe
cook time: 4 1/4 hours
prep time: 10 minutes
Serves 4

-1 tsp. olive oil
-4 chicken breasts
-salt and pepper
-1 bermuda onion, chopped
-5 garlic cloves, chopped
-2 zucchini, cut
-1 large red pepper, cored, cut into chunks
-1 (15 oz) can pineapple chunks in juice
-2 cups chicken broth
-1 tsp cumin
-1-2 tsp curry
-1-2 tsp paprika
-1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
-2 tsp brown sugar
-1 (14 oz) can coconut milk
-1/2 cup sliced black olives
-1 large lime, juice of

1. Drizzle a touch of olive oil in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Rinse chicken breasts in cold water and pat dry. Place in the bottom of the slow cooker. Season with sea salt and ground pepper. Add the onion, garlic, red pepper, and pineapple chunks with juice.
3. Add the broth, spices and brown sugar or agave.
4. Cover and cook on low or high-your choice-according to your slow cooker's instructions for cooking chicken and vegetables
5. A half hour before serving, add the coconut milk, sliced olives, and lime juice, stir.
6. Cover and heat through for 20-30 minutes.
7. Serve-with all the broth-over hot cooked brown rice

Monday, October 19, 2009

Change of Plans

LeeAnn is changing her schooling from European History to Vet Tech.

Before anyone assumes I am changing education paths because I didn't enjoy my trip, that is wrong. Way wrong! I had a fantastic time and I absolutely loved all the sights. I simply discovered on my trip that while I love history and it fascinates me, nothing made me happier than running into a cute stray dog on the trip. (Not the fact that they were stray but the fact they were so cute).


And then I was reminded how animals are just better than the humans I'd be studying in history. Like Caligula for example? Would you rather study the disturbed and perverted mind of Caligula or the happy, carefree mind of a little Jack Russell terrier? I think the answer is easy.

So the way I see it, I should be a vet tech.
Because:

1) it's easier to work with animals than people
2) animals are cuter than people (ok not all the time :) )
3) animals are better humans than people (it's true! generally speaking.. look at history)
4) animal history isn't replete with war, crime and other atrocities. In fact the only animals known to participate in war-like activities are monkeys, the closest animals to humans!
and
5) maybe I can get discounted vet care for Winston? That's a perk.

So based off of those facts, I think it would be best if I focus on what makes me the most happy. :)

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Scenes From Paris




































Monday, September 7, 2009

City of Roses












Sunday, August 30, 2009

August





















Saturday, July 18, 2009

Joie de Vivre

Summer 2009 Goings-On
*****
Winston's First Big Hike


Taking a Dip

Some pictures from Washington




And Chicago...