I recently spent a few minutes remembering the good ole days when cooking was on the top of my list of most enjoyable things to do. Don't get me wrong, I still love to cook but even reading the last post I submitted on this blog, unbelievably almost 2 years ago, its amazing how much my life has changed. I smiled at the fact that although I didn't know it at the time only 3 short days after my last post I found out we were pregnant. The moment my life got flipped upside-down!

I wouldn't trade that somersault for anything in the world but I have to admit it's sweet nostalgia to go back and remember the days of food blogging, days in the kitchen, and hours mulling over new recipes.

I put this blog aside initially because the first few months of my pregnancy I couldn't think about food without chunks rising unless it was Wolf Brand Chili, breakfast sausage, or Cheetos. Who's going to read a blog about those?? After the first semester passed I found myself still not too interested in cooking and more time was focused on getting ready for our new family member. Then she arrived and as they all say "time flies" and boy has it. Cooking has come back into the picture on an occasion but its mostly to provide meals for my family and not necessarily for pure enjoyment like it used to be.

Although bittersweet, it's time for this blog to come to a close for now. Who knows if one day I will pick it back up but for now I feel like closing this door. New things rank at the top of my priority list, new hobbies, and a new person fills my life.

I hope to be more diligent in blogging on a new subject with a possible/occasional food post here- pandmpace.wordpress.com


That's all for now.

Greek Salad

Going to a new place seems to increase your tendency to cook their style of food. Either that or I just wish we were back in Greece so I try my hand at Greek food more often than not!
I had a few Greek salads while we were in Greece, they were not much like the ones you find in America. I'm sure there are those "Americanized" restaurants that you could find your typical salad in but after having an authentic Greek Salad, I'm not sure we know what we are doing when we make salad here. We seem to lack substance and add a lot of "fluff" lettuce! Okay, I'm not going to diss lettuce, because I for one have had some dang good salads with the stuff but you must try a Greek salad at least one time in your life!
With all the WONDERFUL produce that is coming from gardens I have been blessed with tons from my father-in-law, some from friends, and some from the farmers market. All, of course, much better than anything you can buy at a typical grocery store. When your fridge is full of it, you have to find recipes that use it up because I am under the impression that the preserved version isn't quite as good as the fresh! Greek salads are basically a load of veggies tossed together with some good olive oil dressing and what a better time to make a big batch. Not to mention I have discovered that feta doesn't give me lactose intolerant symptoms, I have been in love with it since.
This version of Greek Salad has probably more different veggies than your typical fair however the flavors resemble Greece so much, you will feel like your sitting seaside in Santorini!

Greek Salad
recipe thanks to me!

Ingredients:
for the dressing:
1/4 c kefir
1/4 c olive oil
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tbs lemon juice
1 tbs apple cider vinegar
1 clove garlic
2 tsp Dijon mustard
salt and pepper
for the salad:
1 bunch of asparagus
2 regular sized zucchini and yellow squash
2 decent sized tomatoes
1 purple onion
feta for top

Directions-
1. Whisk together the dressing ingredients.
2. Chop up your veggies into bite sized pieces.
3. Toss together the dressing and veggies.
4. Sprinkle with feta.

June 2011

For the most part, June was a pretty relaxing month in our house hold. The summer is officially here, and it was marked by my first sun-kissed tan. We are loving our new place along with the peaceful pool that is so close! After such an exciting May, I almost have the temptation to skip June's blog update, all I can think is...boooring! : ) I guess I live for excitement, but being content where God has me is something I feel like God taught me a lot about in June. A book by the name of "Selah" by Nancie Carmichael was something God used to really make me reflect and focus on having times of peace and quite. That it's okay to not be doing something all the time, which my personality drives me towards. I really think that our current culture teaches us that your suppose to be "going, going, going" or you don't amount to much. When in reality that just distracts us from thinking deeply, enjoying peace, and really reflecting on the beautiful grace God gives us day in and day out. Honestly, it didn't take long before I forgot about the lesson and was caught up in being busy again. A friend was so sweet to remind me of how God has season's in our life, those season's are planned by Him, sometimes they are busy, sometimes they are slow, what we do with each season is a reflection of how much we trust God. If we are discontent with a season, we are discontent with God. It's so easy to complain about our circumstances whatever they may be, but knowing that God planned each one of our steps for a purpose really puts things in perspective. Not to mention that those plans are really for His glorification, not ours! That reminder went well with what I had previously learned. What a good friend I have! Really, what a good God I have!

The first week of June P and I were able to accompany a large group of our international students to the Dallas Aquarium. There were loads of things to see, however I must say the smell was not so great. We enjoyed our short visit and was really glad we didn't have to fork over the money for that adventure.


P has been really getting into taking pictures with our new camera, he spent sometime at our school campus and got some really good shots.

The last weekend in June we spent at relatives, it was a whirlwind weekend but we actually got to see MOST of our family in the two days we were down. My Mimi celebrated her 75th birthday, we had a Brazilian dinner with our folks, and P was able to get some homework done for his World Missions class by interviewing an international!

What a good month to start the summer. It is so quiet around work since most of the students are gone, but what a good time to relax and enjoy the quietness God has blessed us with.

P and I are saying bye to June and a big fat HELLO to July, excited about what God has orchestrated and amazed that we are apart of His plan!