Gracias Cozumel: Taco Layer Dip

I just made this masterpiece for the second time in two weeks! A big thanks to Dr. Kandace (my lovely, new boss) who practices nutrition-based healing and chiropractic for this, now favorite, recipe.  The night before my family left for a week long trip to Cozumel, Mexico, J and I hosted a small dinner gathering for my dad's birthday. The dip went almost as fast as my week off went - like poof. I was back in MN by Friday eve and am still bursting at the seams with excitement to be back in this frigid weather. NOT. So, I had some warming up to do, a craving to satiate and an empty 'fridge to fill: a win, win, win. Now, grab that cerveza with lime and let's toast to one hell of a life-changing, international experience. Barriga llena corazon contento (full stomach, happy heart, en espanol).

Serves 10-12

2 cans refried, black beans (vegetarian)
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
1 16 oz container sour cream
1 pkg cream cheese
1-1 1/2 cups of salsa
1-2 cups shredded lettuce
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 can large, pitted black olives

In medium bowl, mix beans with taco seasoning mix. As the base, spread the mixed beans evenly onto a round platter. Mix sour cream and cream cheese (at room temperature), season with salt and pepper and spread atop the beans. Next, salsa. Sprinkle with lettuce, then cheese, then garnish with olives, red peppers, etc. Refrigerate for an hour or two to blend flavors. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips. I would highly recommend Garden of Eatin's Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, GMO free and made with organic, blue corn. Delicioso!

2012.

We started off the year right with a 50th birthday celebration for my lovely father. A dad is the most important man in a woman's life and he sure is just that.

 

I turned the BIG 2-3 and celebrated with the whole fam.

 

Jon entered his senior year at Augsburg. He will graduate in May! We are looking forward to that. Hockey ending, on the other hand, will be hard.

 

I learned so much from the fabulous ladies at Love and Life Architects as LoveLife Design Concierge. I was blessed with the opportunity to work in such a fascinating industry along with Miss Kailen Rosenberg, who was hailed by the one and only, Oprah Winfrey, as OWN tv's Love Ambassador.

 

The Peace Project was an idea that came to Jon and I in the beginning of the year. It started with a complaining session about how our little hometown was lacking in the healthy food department and evolved into something much more that coincided with the 150th anniversary of the U.S.-Dakota War. In short, we devoted most of the winter preparing, planning and researching the rich, Dakota history that once was. 

 

In March, Jon and I celebrated 5 years (that's HALF a decade, people) of 'official' love on St. Patrick's Day with a small road trip to Mankato, Minnesota. Mostly to do research at the Blue Earth Historical Society and to commemorate the Dakota 38 that were hanged there. Although we are not Irish, we truly are lucky in love.

 

On Earth Day (April), The Peace Project planted one of our first labors of love, our sign that stood in previously conventionally farmed soil right on Highway 24 for all to see. Boy, did the questions start rolling then.

 

June brought Jon, Jason and I away from the U's West Bank and Augsburg to the comforting area of Bryn Mawr. Wooden floors, large park right across the street, on-street parking, squirrels in the ceiling, plenty of windows, small-town feel that we have been looking for (minus the squirrels, of course).

 

July brought tons and tons of, zucchini. I am now a chocolate zucchini cake master.

 

In August, Jon presented our project in front of a whole crowd of students and professors in Berkeley, California.

And plenty of weekends spent canning salsa, stewed tomatoes, spaghetti sauce and enjoying the occasional bloody mary.

 

Too many trips to the Animal Humane Society, since we live 2 miles from one now. Hopefully 2013 will bring what we've wanted for too long.

 

September brought curing onions, basil pesto and plenty of pickles.

 

The Peace Project sold our bounty at both the Litchfield and Minneapolis (West Broadway) Farmer's Markets. What a fun experience to be able to connect with people that are looking for fresh, local produce and are SO thankful to be recipients.

We joined the Wirth Co-op membership committee to help raise awareness and gain members for a neighborhood co-op that should be up and running by Earth Day 2013.

I jumped into the grad school ring, from east coast to west coast, getting some great advice from like-minded individuals. Although the educational path is set, I have some soul-finding to experience before I can think about hitting the books again.

October brought the most ample amount of squash that I have ever seen in my life, and naturally, a bunch of puree-making, seed-saving and pumpkin-carving.

November and December: lots of holiday celebrating, seeing friends, a new job as a Practice Coordinator/Chiropractor's Assistant for a holistic office just west of the metro (so exciting, btw) seeing family, life-changing dreams, bronchitis, and then returning bronchitis, lots of antibiotics, cookie-baking, snow and life-changing conversations.

On December 26, 2012, the year came full-circle, our hearts were with the approximately 67 Dakota horse riders as their 330 mile journey came to an end on the 150th anniversary of the largest mass execution in U.S. history. On that day in 1862, 38 Dakota men were hanged from a single gallows platform in downtown Mankato. An unplanned, 40 mounds lined the medicine wheel garden to grow our three sisters (squash, corn, beans).

Mitakuye Oyasin, We Are All Related.

The best is yet to be in 2013, the year of Little Crow. Wishing you all peace, love and happiness in the new year!

Calypso Bean

Of all the wonderful things in the wonderful universe of God, nothing seems to me more surprising than the planting of a seed in the blank earth and the result thereof.  

Julie Moir Messervy

The Black Calypso Bean, otherwise referred to as orca or yin yang is an heirloom variety. I purchased the seeds through Seed Savers Exchange, who say that the beans were originally found in the Caribbean. Besides being one of the best for baking and soups, this full-of-flavor bean wears a dramatic outer shell, which is just, awesome. Many of our high school friends back in the rural homestead have followed in their parent's footsteps and taken on conventional farming. It's a bit of crazy-making conversation when we find ourselves together, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms. One night on 'the town,' Jon, still in his garden jeans, discovered a few Calypso Beans from a test picking earlier. We weren't surprised when there was little interest in the beans that we had proudly harvested. A few minutes and a few changes of subject later, a gentleman approached Jon and I and through his heavy, Mexican accent he spoke, "Those beans...can I see those beans?" He must have noticed us admiring them, or rolling eyes at them, depending on who he had been watching.

When we flashed the beans, his eyes lit up with intrigue, "Where did you get these," he rang out. We explained to him that we had purchased them through the Seed Savers Exchange and he went on, "The last time I had seen these beans, it was over twenty years ago in Mexico." He proceeded to mention something almost inaudible with regard to his family. Realizing it was a bittersweet moment full of cherished memories, but of loved ones left behind was when we found all of our hearts sinking. "Take them," we insisted, "Plant them. Then you will have some to share." The man smiled from ear to ear and through his smile came the gracious, yet quiet, "Thank you."

This moving moment is one that will not be forgotten: we will never take for granted the power of an heirloom seed.

Simple Refrigerator Pickles

Descending from the recipe bible of the matriarch herself, Erna M. S. (my great grandma), comes a rather easy, straightforward method for these crunchy, classic, low-sodium pickles that require much less work than those that are traditionally canned. One bite of these beauts, and I'm thrown back to my 7-year-old days, visiting with grandma in her kitchen, sampling goodies like these very pickles and, of course, saltines topped with strawberry jam. Although G.G. Erna is no longer with us, her masterpieces will trickle down for future generations to relish, no pun intended. Thanks, G!

1 gallon jar or ice cream pail
Approx. 5 lbs. cucumbers, thinly sliced
1 medium red onion, sliced
1 medium white onion, sliced
2 cups distilled vinegar
4 tablespoons salt
4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons celery seed
1 teaspoon mustard seed
1-2 cloves garlic, finely minced

Thinly slice enough cucumbers to fill a one gallon jar, container or pail. In no specific order, combine ingredients, stir the mixture and cover. They will be ready to eat within a few days (if you can wait that long) and will keep in refrigerator for about 2-3 months.

Simple deliciousness.

Sunflowers!

The first sunflowers have finally graced us with their lovely, sunny presence. What started as sunflower seeds in the birdfeeder, sprouted into a not so welcome guest in my mom's flower bed. Can't wait to see the rest!

The Miracle of Seed

As I was browsing through photos from our garden, I stumbled upon two pictures that caught my eye.
The before....

And, the after.

 It may definitely be impossible NOT to have a garden from this point on.

Tribute to Taoyateduta and the Occasional Zucchini.

On July 3rd, 2012 we remembered Taoyateduta (Little Crow), chief of the Mdewakanton Dakota Sioux: a leader, a teacher, a legend. (1810 - July 3, 1863). We traveled about six miles north of Hutchinson, MN to offer our very first zucchini as a tribute. As day turned to night, we noticed that the moon was painted red.

Earth Day 2012

"We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees." Qwatsinas

As a whole, the world celebrated Earth Day 2012, this past Monday. One special day, named to honor and recognize the miraculous planet that we live on. My hope is that most of us try to recognize, honor and respect the earth every day. As for me, my connection with nature and our mother earth is only becoming stronger. I have been a city dweller for the past 5 1/2 years, but mind, body and soul have pretty much stayed in the rural countryside, where I was born, raised and lived for all 18 years of prior existence. I'm longing for it and I can no longer ignore it. 

I miss the woods, trees, the fields, the birds, the green, the stars in the night sky, dirt, the crunchy leaves, butterflies and the sun. I miss it all and more. For me, it's time to transition back to the basics, back to my roots, but in my own way.

Earth Day 2012 was extra special, because after weeks of devoted composition, The Peace Project's first 'sign' of life, a true labor of love, is standing proudly; no turning back now!

Lovetown, USA!!

I am ecstatic that the news has finally surfaced. I am even more so excited that my wonderful boss, mentor and friend, Kailen Rosenberg, will be a part of this extremely unique and challenging social experiment. Not to mention, after viewing this video made by the residents of Kingsland, Georgia during the nomination phase of the process, I am looking forward to watching deserving people be blessed with such an amazing opportunity.

Below, is what was released on Oprah's site on Monday: 

"After a nationwide search, OWN and BBC Worldwide Productions have selected Kingsland, Georgia, to be transformed into Lovetown, USA. Two expert matchmakers including the real-life "Hitch," Paul Carrick Brunson, and Kailen Rosenberg, with more than 200 successful marriages to her name and hailed as a true "love whisperer," will take over Kingsland for 30 days, helping eight singles embark on a journey to find true love in their own backyard.
From the local mayor to restaurateurs, bosses and even married couples, everyone in the town will be involved. This one-of-a-kind social experiment is the biggest dating challenge in TV history—examining the effects love can have on the DNA of one American community."

Visit http://www.oprah.com/own/Lovetown-USA-About-the-Show#ixzz1jYcNXFCU to learn more about the show and to share your thoughts with Kailen Rosenberg and OWN.

For all you twitter enthusiasts, be sure to follow @kailenrosenberg, @lovearchitects and @loveandlifeXO for Kailen Rosenberg, Lovetown, USA and Love and Life Architects updates!!
Photo.
Photo.

A Celebration to Remember

As you may have noticed, in a previous post, my parents were married 25 years ago on September 19th! ...It's almost hard to believe. Since my parents are so humble and because their 4 children love them more than they will ever know, we took the initiative to throw them a party! Personally, I have always been very proud of their relationship, as we all know, relationships aren't always easy, especially when you throw 4 children, all 2 years apart, in the mix. Especially now, after working at a healthy relationship firm and helping people find that one true love, I have discovered a stronger appreciation for their relationship and can truly understand the importance of this milestone. Luckily, us 'kids' pulled through, worked together and put on an awesome event.