Bookshelf: April Edition

Confession: I love buying books. Used bookstores are places where I can finally exhale, slow down, and wander.

I love reading books too, but I (like my father) usually end up in the middle of twelve different books at once, popping around, and not finishing any of them particularly quickly. I'm not very patient sometimes (ahem, most of the time), so if I have a new book, I want to start it right away. None of this wait-until-you-finish-the-other-book nonsense.

What a great philosophy

That said, here are the books on my nightstand right now:

A Beautiful Mess: A Perfectionist's Journey Through Self Care by Kristin Ritzau.

Mel recommended this one, and I'm all about memoir-style, encouragement books. Plus Kristin Ritzau includes recommendations at the end of each chapter for exercises to do to practice self-care. I've probably underlined half the book by now...


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Okay, I actually finished this one a few weeks ago, but it was so good. Guernsey is an island off of England that was occupied by the German Nazis in World War II. This book goes through the story of the islanders' experience during the occupation. They briefly mention Normandy...I teared up a little. The whole thing is written in letters, which took me a little while to get used to, but it works.

The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis

I've wanted to read this book for a long time; it seems like one that Christians should read at some point--if not the whole thing, then part of it. I pick it up every now and then and read a few chapters--they're pretty short. It is made up of letters written from one devil to his nephew, teaching him how to work against "the Enemy" (God) and Christians. I didn't really give much thought to this concept growing up, but it's super interesting to consider and makes me even more determined not to let those little devils win this fight.


Zelda by Nancy Milford

I might have judged this one by it's cover...can you blame me?

I bought this for 75 cents at a used book sale, and the man selling it said it's his favorite biography. I love reading about the Jazz Age, and I've always enjoyed Fitzgerald, so why not learn about his wife? I just started this one, so it will probably be on my nightstand for a while...


Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

I'm waiting until my current stack shrinks a little to start this book, but I've heard such great things about it. I'll keep you posted.


Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist

Ditto for this one. I read Cold Tangerines a few years ago and really enjoyed Shauna's writing style. Bread and Wine is her most recent book and everyone is raving about it. It also includes recipes, which I'll probably have to Paleo-ize, but gluten aside, I'm looking forward to reading it.



And I think that's it for now. What are you currently reading? Any recommendations?

Mug Cake #2 + Links

Let's just say, it's been a week.

I had a lovely package arrive a few days ago from my best friend--Paleo Trail Mix! Isn't she thoughtful? I've been carrying the jar around with me all week. It's walnuts, cashews, almonds, pepitas (I think), various dried fruits, big shreds of coconut, and little chunks of chocolate.

cheers, bonjour, howdy

I made a new mug cake last night. I adjusted my mom's original mug brownie recipe (which is excellent already). I just added an egg and some coconut flour--I don't know why, I was just in that sort of mood.

1 ripe banana
2 eggs
1-2 tablespoons almond butter
1 heaping tablespoon cocoa
1 (small) tablespoon coconut flour (I didn't actually measure this, so I'm estimating here; start with a little sprinkle, add more if you want)
Few dashes of cinnamon

Mush the banana, then mix in the eggs, then the almond butter. Slowly stir in the cocoa (it might end up all over the counter), the coconut flour, and the cinnamon. If this isn't already in a microwave-safe dish, put it in one and microwave for about 3 minutes, or until cooked in the middle. It will rise a bit, so make sure the bowl/dish isn't too shallow. It could probably serve 2-3 people, but it's okay if you eat the whole thing yourself.

I didn't take a picture but it looked like a brownie in a bowl--take my word for it. I also topped my piece with some chocolate chips.

Now, eat your brownie and read these articles. Happy Friday!

The Science of Being a Sports Fan (Smithsonian)

33 Most Beautiful Abandoned Places in the World (BuzzFeed via Rachel Held Evans) 

Who doesn't love Maggie Smith? (via Sarah Bessey)

There's a new trailer for Great Gatsby. I. Can't. Wait. (via Sarah Bessey)

100 Rules of Dinner. Fascinating. (Dinner, A Love Story via Cup of Jo)

How to Catch a Star (The Freedom Experiment)

Continue with the willingness to accept that it might not happen when you want it, and it might not happen the way you want it to be. But if you learn to think different – I promise you that dreams come true.

Did you know they're renaming cuts of meat? Does this mean I'll know what a Denver steak is? Nope. (Chicago Tribune)

Runners Aren't Crazy! (Hello Giggles)

xo

What Would Hil Eat: Dinner + Mug Cake

After a weekend of not-much-cooking, I had a cooking marathon yesterday. I made Paleo Mayo, roasted some sweet potatoes, browned ground pork, made pumpkin bars, then made dinner. Sauteed kale, roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots, and chicken with leeks.

Starting with kale, wash the leaves and cut off the big stems, then roughly chop the leaves (not your fingers...I've learned the hard way).

In a large skillet on medium high, melt some coconut oil, then pile in your kale. It might look like it won't fit, but trust me, it will cook way down.

Here is where you can get creative: add some garlic, seasonings, a little balsamic (if that floats your boat), maybe a little chicken broth or water to help the kale soften. Don't add too much liquid or it will get soggy. My favorite lately has been a little garlic, some chicken broth and a splash of balsamic, salt and pepper, then some honey (good idea, Mel!) toward the end to make a bit of a glaze. Let it simmer for a while, using tongs to flip and stir occasionally. At this point, I usually test a piece of kale to see if it's cooked--I like it a little crunchy. Turn the heat off.

My mom has recently recommended leeks (who knew?) sauteed with chicken, so I decided to try it. I used chicken tenders (aka chicken breasts cut into smaller pieces, thank you Sprouts).

Leeks can be misleading. They're huge when you buy them, but you only end up using maybe half of the whole stalk. But fear not, there are so many layers in a leek, you'll still end up with plenty. I only used one medium/large leek for this and it was enough.

Cut off the root and the top (the thick green leaves won't be good to eat), leaving the white/lighter green part. Cut it in half lengthwise and slice pretty thin. It's easiest to wash them now because there are so many layers...rinse in a colander and let dry a bit.

We'll pretend I remembered to wash them...

In a large skillet over medium high, melt coconut oil, then toss in the leeks. I think I added a little bit of water here to help them cook. Let them simmer and soften for a while, then add your chicken. As the chicken is cooking, season the pieces, then flip and repeat. The leeks will keep cooking with the chicken, and the whole pan will brown, so have some oil/broth ready to keep it from burning or drying out. Cook time will depend on the size of your chicken, so use your best judgement and don't overcook it!

Peel and chop some whole carrots. Rinse and chop Brussels sprouts (halves or quarters depending on the size).  Toss in olive oil and salt/pepper/whatever you want.  Put in the oven at 425 for approximately 15-20 minutes, but keep an eye on it, they might cook faster, or might take longer than that.

The way I cook, nothing is ready at the same time, so I just plate it then microwave the whole thing.

MUG. CAKE.
2 eggs
1/2 ripe banana
1 tbsp warmed coconut oil
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp coconut flour
1 tbsp cocoa
dash of cinnamon
dash of salt
Get creative, add what you want!

Either in a bowl or the food processor, mix eggs and banana until combined, add coconut oil, then the dry ingredients and keep mixing. Pour into a mug and microwave for 2.5 to 3 minutes or until cooked through. I only ate half, topped with chocolate chips and a little almond butter.

Shelter Island and Paleo Pumpkin Bars

I Instagrammed this picture yesterday. My office had a lunch meeting at Shelter Island and I couldn't resist documenting it. I get a little numb to Point Loma sometimes, but it's nice to remember how fortunate we are to live so near the ocean...it's my happy place.

Across the bay toward downtown SD

I've been experimenting with a paleo pumpkin bar recipe lately. I don't usually like following recipes, so I wanted to try making my own. I'm shooting for a good snack with very little/no sugar and some protein. My first batch turned out a little pumpkin-pie-ish, but the second one is an improvement! They might need some tweaking (name that movie), but I think this recipe might be a keeper. They're nut-free, unless you want to add some almond butter, that's your call. If you have any suggestions for improvements, let me know!

It's just so pretty...

Preheat your oven to 375. Grease an 8x8 or 9x9 square pan.

Into a food processor:
1 cup pumpkin puree (about half a can)
3 eggs
1 ripe banana

Blend until smooth.

Now, add:
1/3 cup + 1 tbsp coconut flour
1 tbsp melted (but not too hot) coconut oil
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon (or a couple shakes from the jar...)
1 tsp vanilla (or a dash...who measures vanilla?)
pinch of salt

Blend until smooth.

Pour/scoop the batter into the greased pan and spread it out so it's all even. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through.

Optional: add honey/agave, chocolate chips, almond butter, sweet potato instead of pumpkin, or whatever you have in your cupboard...then tell me how they turn out!

Misery Study #3

Here is my second drawing of Misery by Jules Desbois (from the Rodin Museum in Paris), and above is my third. Clearly I'm not planning the drawing well, because I haven't been able to get the whole thing on the page, but I kind of like it like this...same subject, very different result.

Tuesday reading

Happy Tuesday! Some of these articles might be a little intense (all are still excellent) so I recommend the last two to end on a positive note.

xo





 A Word About Transitions from Leeana Tankersley (GypsyInk)

• Do your best to be kind to yourself
• Let God into the chaos
• Let people love you

here

God-Shaped Hole by Addie Zierman (via Sarah Bessey)

We are, all of us, punched through with holes, living with a little bit more emptiness every  year. And it’s possible to be filled with the Spirit and still feel the void...God is not some perfectly shaped stopper, meant to keep a sinking ship afloat. He is something else entirely – a life boat, a raft. The Rock that we cling to when the whole thing is going to hell.

Good advice about fear (via Smart, Pretty, and Awkward)

here

How the news impacts your health (Mark's Daily Apple, via Holly Would If She Could)

Things I wish I could go back and say to my college self. Accurate. (Hello Giggles)

Let's Roar (Paleo for Women)

here

63 reasons why boy bands were better in the 90's (Buzzfeed)

Catch (You Tube via Hello Giggles)

California, Meet Merville

I was in Merville-Franceville, Normandy for six weeks last summer. I was working for an organization for American college students studying abroad. It's basically a big house where the students live for six weeks and take classes. There were two other girls working with me. Our job was general housework, cleaning, helping in the kitchen, laundry, etc, so nothing glamorous (I have an iron burn to prove it), and it was hard in a lot of ways, but talk about growth outside my comfort zone...and believe me, we will.

Relatively low tide, looking up the beach

The house was about 200 yards from the sand, so I was out there at least once a day. I got to go on some of the field trips with the students (so many pictures, so many posts...), but I think one of my favorite parts about my trip was our proximity to the ocean. I've always found the ocean calming, so my time out there every day really saved me in a lot of ways.

Our house is right behind that first row of houses on the left

The top of the beach was usually covered in shells, which made running interesting, so I tried to time my runs during low-tide because I refuse to run in shoes on sand. The difference between low and high tide was amazing...

I ran sprints that day...can you tell?

Because people still ride chariots pulled by horses

This isn't even the most shells I saw

Merville-Franceville is on the coast of Normandy, not far from the D-Day landing beaches. I love history, so naturally this just blew my mind. Actually the first few minutes of the D-Day invasion happened about a mile from the town--not the beach landings, but the very beginning of the whole operation (Am I the only one who finds that fascinating?).

Down the coast

The town itself is pretty stinking cute. and super small. I could walk around the main part of the town in probably 10 minutes, then houses surround that. It was pretty typical as far as French beach towns go (although I haven't been to many...I'm just assuming here)...restaurants on the boardwalk, bakery, tabac (newsstand meets liquor store), grocery store (a really small one), post office, random little businesses here and there, little park in the middle with a gazebo. There was a farmer's market on Thursday mornings--I bought a pair of shoes there...when in France...

Boulangerie aka bakery aka PAIN AU CHOCOLAT

That's my house on the left, then the gazebo and tiny park/town square

That's basically it. The town borders an estuary/reserve, so there were paths through it where I ran sometimes. There was a playground, swimming pool, and mini golf course along the boardwalk, but they weren't open while I was there. The last couple weeks of my trip, there was a little mini carnival open in the beach parking lot. And one day, a whole caravan of gypsies (They prefer "gens de voyage" literally translated as "traveling people") camped in the parking lot. I had a total Chocolat moment and wanted to talk to them (you never know where you'll meet Johnny Depp) but I got nervous and chickened out. But, like the movie, townspeople really don't like when gypsies come to stay. They only stayed one night and left the next day, but apparently the Merville-ians weren't as excited as I was that they came at all.



Another thing about Normandy? The sun sets around 9 or 10 p.m.