A day off from working out:

Friday morning was a special morning for Shane and I because Ted got out of bed to walk with us.  Shane gets way too excited when the three of us go for a walk, he thinks it’s time for running in the park to chase a toy.  No toy on Friday, just a 3.15 mile walk.  We were late and had to cut it a bit short.  

The weather was just perfect.  I had to drive “Sporty” to work even if it was still too cold for top down driving.  The ride was fun and got me in the mood for summer travels.

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Coffee connection:

I bought my self a new coffee mug for my weekday commute to work. It’s only a 10 minute ride but there is something to be said for routines and my routine includes making a cup of coffee to take to work. I have only one or two sips while in the car.  The exact same coffee maker and coffee flavors are available at work, but I like my routine and so I’ve stopped questioning any logic or lack thereof behind my ritual.  

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It’s ceramic inside and out.  As Ted’s daughter, Pam (Total Health Counseling) suggested, the coffee tastes better than those metal lined travel mugs. The lid doesn’t seal real tight but I like it because I don’t spill as much down my chin.  It seems whenever a cup has a lid on it, half the liquid goes down the front of me.

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Speaking of travel mugs, did you see the latest Apple Crumbles traveler?  It’s ceramic and so cute!  You can get it at the link. I just ordered one. So excited!

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Am I just a travel cup incompetent or does that drool thing happen to you too?

We also have a German Shepherd mug but that is officially Ted’s and the lid is different so my mouth has some problems there.

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Do you have a favorite coffee mug?  If so, do you think your coffee tastes better when you use it?

Let’s Do The Parsnip Mash!

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Don’t you just love the sweet flavor of parsnips?   I usually simply peel, trim, slice and roast but the other night I wanted a different texture and I needed to use up some red cabbage. This is the recipe I came up with that both Ted and I really enjoyed.

The sweet parsnip flavor is dominant with a hint of earthy pepper from the red cabbage and a teasing of onion. 

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Vary the flavors as you want in this dish but don’t use any extra onion otherwise it will wash out that enthusiastic sweetness of the parsnip.

Ingredients
    1 lb parsnips

   1 cup sliced and chopped red cabbage 
    3 small green onions, chopped small
    pinch or two of allspice
    1/4 tsp sea salt
    10 grinds of fresh black pepper from the pepper grinder
    paprika (optional)
    1/2 TBS olive oil   

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 F.

Start boiling about 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water.

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Prepare the parsnips by peeling, chopping off the ends and cutting into small pieces (this will make them soften quicker in the boiling water.

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Add the parsnips to the water, set the timer for 10 minutes and now quickly chop up your red cabbage.

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Add the cabbage to the parsnips and let boil for the remaining time (probably about 8 minutes).

When the timer goes off, drain and roughly mash the parsnips.  Mash until they are at the desired consistency.

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Stir in your chopped green onion * remember – less is better for this recipe, but don’t delete them completely.

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Stir in your allspice, salt, and pepper.  Turn into a baking dish (I used a Pyrex dish – no need to spray it with non-stick, it won’t stick)  and then top with the paprika (if using) and drizzle on the olive oil.

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Put into the oven for about 15 minutes.

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Enjoy the taste and texture of this sweet and earthy side dish.

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Serve it next to your favorite protein and add another green vegetable just for kicks!

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I will be posting the healthy benefits of this dish on EXAMINER soon. Make sure to check my site.

Joanne

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