A short Musical Theater Rant from a Stage Manager
Dear young theater people, especially those who want to do this as a career:
Stop getting roped into doing shows in your old youth theater your first summer out of college. I can tell you first hand, that "I did this show in high school" or "I played the lead in my youth theater company" will NOT get you a part in a real show let alone a place in the ensemble. This is insider info, people. If doing theater for a living is something you plan on persuing as a career, STAY AWAY from your old youth theater company. They are not going to give you the experience you need. No matter how much they beg you to come back because "they miss you" or "they need you" or no matter what they promise you, don't do it. Even if it's the best place and you have wonderful memories there. Likely you're going to have to either pay to play, give them some sort of scholarship blood, sell tickets, etc.... There is nothing in it for you. Future directors will not see your role in youth theater as 'experience.'
That being said, those of you who think that you'll be getting paid straight out of college your first show, guess again. There are only a precious few companies that actually pay. There are a lot of really good community theaters out there. There are some great directors getting paid (albeit not much) to direct your show... Directors who are going to actually give you the experience you need in that ensemble (or maybe lead) to put on your resume to catapult you to possibly your paid role 1-2 years from now. If you want experience, stop thinking that you deserve pay for it to be worth your time.
Otherwise you may be waiting a long time to ever even be in a show and by that time you might have knocked up your girlfriend and will have to get a job driving the UPS truck and the next show you do will be unpaid... when you're 40.... in your local community theater... that used to be your youth theater.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Living Debt Free starting today
We are officially 100% debt free.
We did it with planning, sacrifice, determination and consistency. We didn't buy any books, CDs, DVDs, attend seminars or use mentoring.* It wasn't always easy, but we made it. Our debt wasn't caused by buying lots of frivolous things on credit cards or taking lavish vacations (ok, well, we took one that we shouldn't have to Negril, Jamaica - it wasn't that fun). In fact, we sold our house in 2013 in order to make this happen and have been renting and even had to move 3 times in the last 2 years because that's what happens sometimes when you rent houses in a crappy economy. We tried to refinance a number of times and were always turned down, usually close to the end of the process. I had to find a lower paying, full-time job (also in a down economy with no jobs out there) to help out with bills and get health insurance for the kids as well as keep them in whatever activities they were in at the time.
Our debt was caused by a lull in the construction field back in 2010-11 and to keep our home and keep the business afloat until things got better, we had to use credit to move things along. It was a gamble that paid off because our business is now going strong and steady. We have money to pay our bills and now that we don't have to put anything else toward our credit cards, we can really make an effort to save so that we can get out of California - a place where we have gone into debt 2 times in the last 20 years.
This was a 5 year process. We did this with no credit counseling and no debt consolidation programs (which are by the way, as close as you can come to claiming bankruptcy and will KILL your credit). My husband and I spoke with credit card companies directly and got interest reduced to 0% with a payoff program within the company itself (not all will do this). I transferred balances to 0% cards with a 2 year payoff so that we could have a consistent pay period and a plan to get certain balances down. We got a loan from a family member who we consistently paid off over a 2 year period (this isn't an option for most people and we are grateful).
The point is, in our mid-40s, we've learned that there's no quick fixes. Stuff happens that are sometimes beyond our control but we learned from our mistakes and we took control by what I said in the beginning. We learned valuable lessons along the way and have even saved while we were paying off debt.
I keep going to the credit sites and looking at the $0.00 balance numbers on each of them. I'm so proud of us!
*Some people need coaching and guidance and if that is what works for them I am all for it, as long as it is working and they are not putting themselves into more debt by stocking up on CDs, DVDs and Books that they don't have time to read or listen to or that they don't ultimately apply to their lives. I did attend a seminar in the last couple of years (paid for by the company I worked for) and the popular, guru barked, "Stop spending money on things you don't need! Get out of debt like I did .....by buying my program and signing up for my next seminar" (in another state with airfare, hotels, not to mention the price tag of the seminar). She then added in similar words, "I know I tell you not to use your credit cards anymore, but if you don't have the money to buy my CDs, books, or subsequent seminars, you can put THOSE on a credit card because they'll ultimately help you." That spoke volumes to me as to how much I didn't need someone else to tell me how to get out of debt. This person was asking 100s or 1000s of dollars (depending on the programs from her never ending library OR seminars you chose to attend) from her followers instead of giving them the tools at THAT seminar to get them out of debt. There was always more to buy, more she was offering. She was good at her job because people flocked to the lines and stood there waiting to swipe their close to maxed credit cards so she could "teach" them what she should have taught them there. That price tag on the seminar they were at was already around $500 a seat and the seminar was TWO DAYS LONG! I'm saying, be careful of who you trust to "teach you" how to get out of debt. If you're trusting them, make sure you're actually getting out of debt with their guidance. If your debt isn't going down, check your statement and make sure your recent purchases are not all to one person or company claiming to have the answers to not being in debt. The answer for why THEY are not in debt is probably YOU.
We did it with planning, sacrifice, determination and consistency. We didn't buy any books, CDs, DVDs, attend seminars or use mentoring.* It wasn't always easy, but we made it. Our debt wasn't caused by buying lots of frivolous things on credit cards or taking lavish vacations (ok, well, we took one that we shouldn't have to Negril, Jamaica - it wasn't that fun). In fact, we sold our house in 2013 in order to make this happen and have been renting and even had to move 3 times in the last 2 years because that's what happens sometimes when you rent houses in a crappy economy. We tried to refinance a number of times and were always turned down, usually close to the end of the process. I had to find a lower paying, full-time job (also in a down economy with no jobs out there) to help out with bills and get health insurance for the kids as well as keep them in whatever activities they were in at the time.
Our debt was caused by a lull in the construction field back in 2010-11 and to keep our home and keep the business afloat until things got better, we had to use credit to move things along. It was a gamble that paid off because our business is now going strong and steady. We have money to pay our bills and now that we don't have to put anything else toward our credit cards, we can really make an effort to save so that we can get out of California - a place where we have gone into debt 2 times in the last 20 years.
This was a 5 year process. We did this with no credit counseling and no debt consolidation programs (which are by the way, as close as you can come to claiming bankruptcy and will KILL your credit). My husband and I spoke with credit card companies directly and got interest reduced to 0% with a payoff program within the company itself (not all will do this). I transferred balances to 0% cards with a 2 year payoff so that we could have a consistent pay period and a plan to get certain balances down. We got a loan from a family member who we consistently paid off over a 2 year period (this isn't an option for most people and we are grateful).
The point is, in our mid-40s, we've learned that there's no quick fixes. Stuff happens that are sometimes beyond our control but we learned from our mistakes and we took control by what I said in the beginning. We learned valuable lessons along the way and have even saved while we were paying off debt.
I keep going to the credit sites and looking at the $0.00 balance numbers on each of them. I'm so proud of us!
*Some people need coaching and guidance and if that is what works for them I am all for it, as long as it is working and they are not putting themselves into more debt by stocking up on CDs, DVDs and Books that they don't have time to read or listen to or that they don't ultimately apply to their lives. I did attend a seminar in the last couple of years (paid for by the company I worked for) and the popular, guru barked, "Stop spending money on things you don't need! Get out of debt like I did .....by buying my program and signing up for my next seminar" (in another state with airfare, hotels, not to mention the price tag of the seminar). She then added in similar words, "I know I tell you not to use your credit cards anymore, but if you don't have the money to buy my CDs, books, or subsequent seminars, you can put THOSE on a credit card because they'll ultimately help you." That spoke volumes to me as to how much I didn't need someone else to tell me how to get out of debt. This person was asking 100s or 1000s of dollars (depending on the programs from her never ending library OR seminars you chose to attend) from her followers instead of giving them the tools at THAT seminar to get them out of debt. There was always more to buy, more she was offering. She was good at her job because people flocked to the lines and stood there waiting to swipe their close to maxed credit cards so she could "teach" them what she should have taught them there. That price tag on the seminar they were at was already around $500 a seat and the seminar was TWO DAYS LONG! I'm saying, be careful of who you trust to "teach you" how to get out of debt. If you're trusting them, make sure you're actually getting out of debt with their guidance. If your debt isn't going down, check your statement and make sure your recent purchases are not all to one person or company claiming to have the answers to not being in debt. The answer for why THEY are not in debt is probably YOU.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Slow Cooker Garlic Red Mashed Potatoes
These were possibly the best mashed potatoes I've ever had. Sorry for the picture captions. I am feeling really weird tonight!
One of the nicest thing about red potatoes is that you do not have to peel them.
Crock Pot Garlic Red Mashed Potatoes
INGREDIENTS:
1 T Olive Oil
2 Pounds Red potatoes (about 10) cut into quarters
4 T Butter
1/4 C Sour Cream (Greek Yogurt will do - plain)
4 Cloves Fresh minced garlic
2 T Dried Parsley (divided)
1/8 C or more FRESH Basil if you can, if not,
BOOOO ... then like 1 T dried basil
1/4 tsp dried Oregano
Salt to taste
Tons of black pepper
1/4 C milk
DIRECTIONS:
- Coat the slow cooker with Olive Oil
- Put the cooked potatoes in the cooker on high and cover
- Cook for 5-6 hours on Low or 2-3 hours on High
- I was going to stir them but forgot and all was ok
- Check them for fork tenderness - they should be about a half hour away from being ready to mash
- Add the Butter and let it melt
- Add the rest of the ingredients holding out 1 T of the Parsley and stir
WE ARE GOING TO BE SO GOOD!
- Cover again and Let it sit for about another 30 minutes
- By this time they should be ready to mash
WE ARE SO READY!!!!
- Mash with a potato masher or with a hand mixer
I AM SO FINE!
- Turn the slow cook setting to warm and serve garnished with the rest of the Parsley when you're ready!
OH! WE'RE READY!
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte in the Slow Cooker
I got this from Pinterest, or more specifically from bettycrocker.com, however, I tweaked it so much that that's the only credit I'll give. There is some prep for the vegan nutmilks and creams so look through the recipe before starting thinking you have everything you need on hand.
Recipe:
2.5 Cups Lavazza Espresso
*I usually use Nadal French espresso, but didn't want to waste it on this in case this wasn't good*
2 Cups of Fresh Nut Milk
1/4 Cup of Heavy Cashew Cream
1/4 Cup Canned Pumpkin (I used Trader Joe's organic pumpkin)
Note: next time I plan to use a real pumpkin
1/3 Cup sugar (try not to use white sugars)
Note: I don't add sugar to my nutmilks or cream, so you may want to add more to your own taste
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
again - you may want to add more if you don't add sugar to your nutmilks and creams
1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
Optional: Whipped cream for the top -
Nut whipped creams are harder to make super whippy, so I just don't.
Put all the ingredients (minus whipped cream) in a slow cooker on high
Use a wire whisk to mix everything.
Cover, leave for 2 hours stirring at about the hour mark.
Ladle into cups.
Top with whipped cream or nutmeg.
Relax and Be happy.
RECIPE FOR NUTMILK
1 cup of nuts to 4 cups water.
(I prefer like 3/4 C Cashews to 1/4 C Hazelnuts)
Blend for 1 minute on high in a Vitamix or Blendtec.
Strain through a nutmilk bag.)
RECIPE FOR CASHEW CREAM
Soak 1 Cup Cashews for 6-10 hours in water. Drain.
(you can used the reserved water, I never do)
Blend in highspeed blender with 1 cup water for about 30 seconds checking consistency.
Add water for your personal consistency. 1 cup is enough for me.
****NOTE: always start with 1 cup and only add a little at a time
- you can't take it away and then you'll just have more nutmilk.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
a special baby showing 2009
a special baby showing
I am not a blogger. But I have to get something off my chest. Today I went to the movies at 11am. It seemed like a good idea at the time. My friend and I had been wanting to see He’s Just Not That Into You since it came out. We had the day off as did my kids. So, the 4 of us traveled to the theater. We went in, bought our tickets, used the bathroom, decided to pass on the Milk Duds and went inside. At first glance the theater was pretty full for 11am during the day knowing some schools still were in session, but we promptly found 4 seats not too far back and not too far forward. When I sat down I suddenly noticed that there were about 50 baby strollers lining the screen. I began to look around and noticed baby strollers lining the aisles in a slightly fire hazardous manner. Soon I began to hear the deafening chorus of many different babies ranging from absolute newborn to around 18 months – coos, joyful screams, angered screams, hunger cries.
I turned to my friend and said, “What is going on here? Are we in the right theater?”
Keep in mind, my friend is 22. She has no kids.
She replied, all knowing, “Oh, this must be one of those special showings for babies.”
Special showings for babies? I felt so dumb I actually thought to myself that maybe really special babies might want to see this movie too. Or wait, what planet am I on? It’s not clear in my memory whether I actually verbalized my confusion, but she answered nonetheless the question she knew I must be asking.
She said, “Since people get mad at moms and dads when they bring babies into the theater, they sometimes designate a special show so that they can bring their babies into the theater and then no one can yell at them.”
Blinking, still utterly flabbergasted, I sat back and listened to the hum of sounds described above while waiting for the movie to begin. I tried to figure this out in my head and make sense of it. It wasn’t that I was upset that I was in a 750 seat theater with approximately 300 babies – I mean, think about it… it’s what comedies are made of. We actually began to laugh at it and make the best of it. But, there was no way and probably will never be any way that I would understand why … why a mother of a baby, who has a 50/50 chance of he or she making lots of noise in a 2 + hour period of time would want to go to a movie where there would be 300 or more of the same. Sure there’s a 50/50 chance your baby won’t cry or make any noise during a 2.5 hour period, but now you have a 50/50 chance that the other 299 might. That’s approximately 150 babies making noise at any given time... During a movie... A heavily dialogued movie... A comedy where if a baby screams, NO one, including you with your screaming baby, gets to enjoy the joke. We’ll leave out the idea that I came to realize it was utterly inappropriate movie for my 14 year olds let alone a small child. I’m sure my 14 year olds' minds were much more damaged by some of the unnecessities than the infants. So much for PG-13. But I digress.
In reality, here is the question. Why would you submit to such an idiotic outing? Was someone offended that they were asked to leave by the other moviegoers because babies at the movies have become as frowned on as a group of gang bangers? Did someone get SO offended that they approached the movie theater and asked for these special showings? And if you are THIS person, were you upset that they imply that you could be spoiling someone else’s good time by “adding your own soundtrack?”
You get everyone up, dressed warm, force your child into a germ ridden theater with hundreds of other children and pay $8 per person for a matinee because it’s your RIGHT to take your child to the movies even though neither you or your fellow movie goers can hear a thing. Why can't people get it through their heads that it's ok to understand that there are some places where it just doesn't make sense to bring a baby let alone 300. Children are annoying. Your child - is ANNOYING. Get over it. Your child/my child will be annoying pretty much until he/she graduates from college. And even then, if you keep sending them messages that everything they do can be excused because there will always be a special day set aside for them they will undoubtedly be annoying and obnoxious their entire life.
My problem with this goes way beyond taking a small baby to a theater. The other part of this is that I would get the whole notion of having a "special baby showing" if the parents with especially noisy babies would still take their children out so the rest of these moms whose babies were somehow quiet for 2.5 hours can hear and enjoy the movie they paid for. Does it make any sense to go to this special showing because you all of a sudden will be accepted and no one will yell at you even though no one can hear anything?
One last question about the name of the outing. Shouldn't it be called a Special Mommy Showing? But the truth is in the title of the outing: Special BABY showing. Oh, it's for your baby! So your BABY can go to the movies... WHAT? No! It's for the Mom, isn't it? So that the mom can get to the movie that maybe she can afford the $8 but not the $20 + $22 for the babysitter and movie with her husband that night. I get that. So.... then shouldn't it be on the contingency that your child remains quiet? Not perfectly quiet, mind you, but quiet enough so it doesn't sound like your livingroom, but a perhaps a slightly noisier theater where no one really is disturbed. The fact is some seemed to think it was their right that even if their babies screamed for 15 minutes at a time that they could just sit there. Does that make any sense? Some did take their babies out, but others just sat there and let their kids scream for long periods of time. ???
So by now because of all my harsh words you have completely forgotten about the fact that I too have children. They’re 14 now. But my kids didn’t see the inside of a movie theater until they were 4. And guess what – we all lived! No one ever had to tell me to shut my kid up during a movie, because it was just common sense to either pay a babysitter so we could go sans children, or just stay home. There are still a slew of movies I have in my Netflix queue that I did not see from 1994 through 1997. I’m 37 now, but at 22-24 I already knew that sometimes I was going to just have to deal with the fact that no one wanted to hear my screaming kids. Even parents of screaming kids don't want to hear YOUR screaming kids – I’m sure of it.
Anyone will tell you, I love babies. Love them. But this is a movie, for goodness sakes. I guarantee half of those people who took their kids will have to go again because they, like me, couldn't hear most of it. So, what was the point?
Disclaimer: This was a post from my facebook "notes" from February of 2009. It got a lot of comments at the time and discussion. Mostly, I just liked the way I wrote it. If ever my facebook account goes by the wayside, I'd like to keep it out there. Comments are welcome.
I turned to my friend and said, “What is going on here? Are we in the right theater?”
Keep in mind, my friend is 22. She has no kids.
She replied, all knowing, “Oh, this must be one of those special showings for babies.”
Special showings for babies? I felt so dumb I actually thought to myself that maybe really special babies might want to see this movie too. Or wait, what planet am I on? It’s not clear in my memory whether I actually verbalized my confusion, but she answered nonetheless the question she knew I must be asking.
She said, “Since people get mad at moms and dads when they bring babies into the theater, they sometimes designate a special show so that they can bring their babies into the theater and then no one can yell at them.”
Blinking, still utterly flabbergasted, I sat back and listened to the hum of sounds described above while waiting for the movie to begin. I tried to figure this out in my head and make sense of it. It wasn’t that I was upset that I was in a 750 seat theater with approximately 300 babies – I mean, think about it… it’s what comedies are made of. We actually began to laugh at it and make the best of it. But, there was no way and probably will never be any way that I would understand why … why a mother of a baby, who has a 50/50 chance of he or she making lots of noise in a 2 + hour period of time would want to go to a movie where there would be 300 or more of the same. Sure there’s a 50/50 chance your baby won’t cry or make any noise during a 2.5 hour period, but now you have a 50/50 chance that the other 299 might. That’s approximately 150 babies making noise at any given time... During a movie... A heavily dialogued movie... A comedy where if a baby screams, NO one, including you with your screaming baby, gets to enjoy the joke. We’ll leave out the idea that I came to realize it was utterly inappropriate movie for my 14 year olds let alone a small child. I’m sure my 14 year olds' minds were much more damaged by some of the unnecessities than the infants. So much for PG-13. But I digress.
In reality, here is the question. Why would you submit to such an idiotic outing? Was someone offended that they were asked to leave by the other moviegoers because babies at the movies have become as frowned on as a group of gang bangers? Did someone get SO offended that they approached the movie theater and asked for these special showings? And if you are THIS person, were you upset that they imply that you could be spoiling someone else’s good time by “adding your own soundtrack?”
You get everyone up, dressed warm, force your child into a germ ridden theater with hundreds of other children and pay $8 per person for a matinee because it’s your RIGHT to take your child to the movies even though neither you or your fellow movie goers can hear a thing. Why can't people get it through their heads that it's ok to understand that there are some places where it just doesn't make sense to bring a baby let alone 300. Children are annoying. Your child - is ANNOYING. Get over it. Your child/my child will be annoying pretty much until he/she graduates from college. And even then, if you keep sending them messages that everything they do can be excused because there will always be a special day set aside for them they will undoubtedly be annoying and obnoxious their entire life.
My problem with this goes way beyond taking a small baby to a theater. The other part of this is that I would get the whole notion of having a "special baby showing" if the parents with especially noisy babies would still take their children out so the rest of these moms whose babies were somehow quiet for 2.5 hours can hear and enjoy the movie they paid for. Does it make any sense to go to this special showing because you all of a sudden will be accepted and no one will yell at you even though no one can hear anything?
One last question about the name of the outing. Shouldn't it be called a Special Mommy Showing? But the truth is in the title of the outing: Special BABY showing. Oh, it's for your baby! So your BABY can go to the movies... WHAT? No! It's for the Mom, isn't it? So that the mom can get to the movie that maybe she can afford the $8 but not the $20 + $22 for the babysitter and movie with her husband that night. I get that. So.... then shouldn't it be on the contingency that your child remains quiet? Not perfectly quiet, mind you, but quiet enough so it doesn't sound like your livingroom, but a perhaps a slightly noisier theater where no one really is disturbed. The fact is some seemed to think it was their right that even if their babies screamed for 15 minutes at a time that they could just sit there. Does that make any sense? Some did take their babies out, but others just sat there and let their kids scream for long periods of time. ???
So by now because of all my harsh words you have completely forgotten about the fact that I too have children. They’re 14 now. But my kids didn’t see the inside of a movie theater until they were 4. And guess what – we all lived! No one ever had to tell me to shut my kid up during a movie, because it was just common sense to either pay a babysitter so we could go sans children, or just stay home. There are still a slew of movies I have in my Netflix queue that I did not see from 1994 through 1997. I’m 37 now, but at 22-24 I already knew that sometimes I was going to just have to deal with the fact that no one wanted to hear my screaming kids. Even parents of screaming kids don't want to hear YOUR screaming kids – I’m sure of it.
Anyone will tell you, I love babies. Love them. But this is a movie, for goodness sakes. I guarantee half of those people who took their kids will have to go again because they, like me, couldn't hear most of it. So, what was the point?
Disclaimer: This was a post from my facebook "notes" from February of 2009. It got a lot of comments at the time and discussion. Mostly, I just liked the way I wrote it. If ever my facebook account goes by the wayside, I'd like to keep it out there. Comments are welcome.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Crock Pot Vegan Broccoli Cheddar soup - Gluten FREE
There aren't really any good Vegan Broccoli cheese soups online. So I decided to see about making my own.
4 cups broccoli divided (1 head should do the trick) cut up into bite size pieces
1 cup Raw Soaked Cashews
3 T Lemon Juice
1 1/2 tsp apple Cider Vinegar
Onion Powder to taste
Garlic Powder to taste
Fresh garlic to taste
Sea Salt to taste
any fresh or dried herbs you like
Fresh ground pepper
Paprkia or Nutmeg depending on your taste for garnish when serving
Lightly steam about 2 cups of broccoli (3-5 minutes over medium heat with a steam pot or double boiler).
While you're doing that:
Using a Vitamix or like blender:
Blend together 1 cup of RAW soaked Cashews and about the same amount of water (enough to cover). Blend until creamy.
If you don't have time to soak the cashews, heat up some water in a teapot to boiling. Put enough water on cashews to Cover, wait a few minutes and then blend until creamy.
put Vitamix on lowest setting and start adding the following (this will prevent lumps)
1/2 cup nutritional yeast (or more depending on how much you like the stuff)
1/4 cup of garbanzo flour or cashew meal or anything to thicken it up that doesn't have gluten
3 T Lemon Juice
1 1/2 tsp Apple Cider vinegar
LOTS of onion powder
LOTS and LOTS of garlic powder
I also added about 4 cloves of garlic
sea salt to taste
add fresh herbs to your liking - I had some fresh oregano that was growing on my window sill.
Added fresh ground black pepper while cooking.
Turn the blender on high and Blend everything above together until creamy - don't over blend - 1 minute should be fine.
Add the lightly steamed broccoli and continue to blend until the broccoli is blended.
Pour out half of the mixture into your crock pot and then add about 2 cups of water to the blender to blend the rest of the mixture together so that you have more soup - you can and should use the broccoli water from steaming. If you need to do this twice, do so, but use less water - use just enough water to make the soup to the desired thickness.
Stir everything up and taste. Add more of what you think is missing and stir.
Turn the Crock pot to LOW and cook for about 3 to 4 hours. (You can also use a stove pot, but you have to watch it and stir it. I'm never in the mood to watch my food).
After the 3-4 hours is up, Add the rest of the 2 cups of broccoli florets and cook for about another 1/2 hour more. Serve up hot!
Ways to make the soup more thick - add more "flour" and less water. All the ingredients are here to make a great soup. Tweak as you see fit.
4 cups broccoli divided (1 head should do the trick) cut up into bite size pieces
1 cup Raw Soaked Cashews
3 T Lemon Juice
1 1/2 tsp apple Cider Vinegar
Onion Powder to taste
Garlic Powder to taste
Fresh garlic to taste
Sea Salt to taste
any fresh or dried herbs you like
Fresh ground pepper
Paprkia or Nutmeg depending on your taste for garnish when serving
Lightly steam about 2 cups of broccoli (3-5 minutes over medium heat with a steam pot or double boiler).
While you're doing that:
Using a Vitamix or like blender:
Blend together 1 cup of RAW soaked Cashews and about the same amount of water (enough to cover). Blend until creamy.
If you don't have time to soak the cashews, heat up some water in a teapot to boiling. Put enough water on cashews to Cover, wait a few minutes and then blend until creamy.
put Vitamix on lowest setting and start adding the following (this will prevent lumps)
1/2 cup nutritional yeast (or more depending on how much you like the stuff)
1/4 cup of garbanzo flour or cashew meal or anything to thicken it up that doesn't have gluten
3 T Lemon Juice
1 1/2 tsp Apple Cider vinegar
LOTS of onion powder
LOTS and LOTS of garlic powder
I also added about 4 cloves of garlic
sea salt to taste
add fresh herbs to your liking - I had some fresh oregano that was growing on my window sill.
Added fresh ground black pepper while cooking.
Turn the blender on high and Blend everything above together until creamy - don't over blend - 1 minute should be fine.
Add the lightly steamed broccoli and continue to blend until the broccoli is blended.
Pour out half of the mixture into your crock pot and then add about 2 cups of water to the blender to blend the rest of the mixture together so that you have more soup - you can and should use the broccoli water from steaming. If you need to do this twice, do so, but use less water - use just enough water to make the soup to the desired thickness.
Stir everything up and taste. Add more of what you think is missing and stir.
Turn the Crock pot to LOW and cook for about 3 to 4 hours. (You can also use a stove pot, but you have to watch it and stir it. I'm never in the mood to watch my food).
After the 3-4 hours is up, Add the rest of the 2 cups of broccoli florets and cook for about another 1/2 hour more. Serve up hot!
Ways to make the soup more thick - add more "flour" and less water. All the ingredients are here to make a great soup. Tweak as you see fit.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
10/16/2013 Wednesday before Sunday
It's a green leafy thingy with other green thingies inside it. it's called a RAW taco. And I really like it.
I've been eating raw for a good 2 days now and it's interesting how hungry I'm not and how little I'm eating. The nice thing about making raw food is that it never gets cold... that's not a joke, but it is funny since it's my biggest pet peeve to make a bunch of hot food for my family and no one is home to eat it.
The taco shell is a Collard Green wrapped around sprouts, sundried tomatoes, sweet little colored peppers, avocado, and there were supposed to be cucs in there but I don't know where to look in the garden (Husband is the green thumb). I chose pea sprouts, cuz, well, they were the prettiest on the Whole Food's shelf? The sauce is a combo of raw sunflower seeds, zucchini, lime, red pepper and I added to it a jalepeno for spice. It's delicious. It's a recipe by Diana Stobo. There are some left for the hubby. Doubt the kids will try it, but it was offered. They can make their own dinner.
I was given some alarming health news yesterday. Nothing like, I'm gonna die soon or anything. But something enough to make me go - whoa. I'm sure glad I decided to go on a cleanse. After I got home from my appointment I made sure to tell my boss that I was taking the next 3 days off. I desperately need to unplug from the world. I kept my phone far today only using the bluetooth for music. I got up early, and got SO much done before 12. It was a productive day. My goal is to try to keep this momentum. We'll see. It's funny, as much as I love to sleep in, I also hate myself for doing it. I'm tired all the time. But getting up early was energizing in itself. Who knew.
So, I think I'm ready to begin the cleanse. I know what I can eat and there are snacks out there that I can bring places that are easy to eat on the go. I almost quit my job because one of the things I was told yesterday was that my stress levels are through the roof. There are a lot of outside issues adding to this, but I'm trying to lessen them asap. By taking these 3 days off I'm hoping to really prepare mentally, physically and emotionally for what's coming over the 10 days of the cleanse. I'm already having some emotions, but so far I'm not missing junk food. I still am not liking the 'cooking' or cutting and chopping, but it's not that much just yet. right now I'm winging it with juicing and making things like the raw taco above. But The Naked Challenge is supposed to be written out day for day meal for meal. So I will have support, plus the support of Diana Stobo as a health coach over those days and a message board.
One last thought for the day - I don't think we were meant to sit down and eat 3 meals a day - big meals like we do. I really don't. I don't think we were meant to graze all day, but I think we were just meant to fuel our bodies when we need to with what we need. More on this later. But I just wanted to put that out there (mostly because I'll forget to talk more about it later).
Today was 100% raw. That's an accomplishment! Gold star for me.
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