Sauted Tuna and Veggies Over Rice

I've noticed a lot of the Pagan blogs I follow include recipes. I love to cook and I've enjoyed some of the blog-land offerings, so I thought I should reciprocate with and offering of my own. This dish is one of my main go-to's. It's not only quick and delicious, but it's cheep! (I know, right?)

(Keep in mind that this is one of those “to taste” recipes!)

This recipes usually takes me 15 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients:
1-2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 medium shallot (diced or sliced)*
1 cup frozen peas (or any green veggie - baby spinach is really good)
2 medium carrots (medium dice)*
1 teaspoon dried basil (or 2 teaspoons fresh)
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Canned tuna*
Salt and pepper to taste

3-4 sun dried tomatoes

1 tablespoon olive oil
1-2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon butter

Cooked rice (I use 1 8.5 oz bag of Uncle Ben’s ‘Ready Whole Grain Medley’ brown & wild rice)**



Directions: (Think of this almost like a stir fry dish.)
Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan on medium/medium-high heat.

Add all of the veggies, the meat, and the salt and pepper to the hot oil.
Sauté until caramelized. The idea is to keep the carrots firm.
Add basil, pepper flakes, and deglaze with lemon juice.
Continue to sauté until reduced.
Remove from heat and top with butter to finish.
Cook the rice as directed on the package. Toss everything together in a bowl, and enjoy.

**To show the versatility of the dish, I served this over pasta in stead of rice. It works just as well, and you can top it off with a little parmesean cheese.



You can also finish with a toated sesame seed oil for a nuttier flavor.



*Any of these ingredients can be fresh or frozen or canned. (Tuna can be replaced with crab.)

Giveaway!!!!

Aine over at the Deepest Well is giving away a really cool bell wand. Head over and check it out!

http://deepestwell.blogspot.com/2010/12/yule-is-cool-giveaway.html

Virtual Tour - Library

Hi, and welcome back.
I'm sorry for this newest interruption, but work and trying to get MD settled back into the rehab facility has taken priority over writing for the past few days.

With that said, on with the tour.

This is the library. I know, it doesn't look like much of a library now, but trust me, it's in there. It's truly a diamond in the rough, and I can't wait to get to cutting a polishing it into my own little jewel!
Currently, it's being used as a storage/cat room. The storage will go, but the cats will stay.
Disclaimer: The wallpaper came with the house and will be the first to leave this room when the cutting/polishing part of the program starts. LOL!
The walls will be painted a soft buttery yellow and the trim will be fresh white. The carpet will be pulled up, so the original honeyed oak floors will shine.

This first shot is of the left hand wall. Currently, this is where my alter lives, but it will eventually be where the fold out love seat will go.



This is the close up of my alter. The four small candles are for the four Watchtower Guardians. The taper is for the Goddess. I have quartz, amethyst, ruby, and jet for Earth. The vase on the left is for sand to put out my smudge stick or to hold incense sticks for Air. The chalice has a small dolphin charm to represent Water, and of course the candles for Fire. The mirror was a gift from DD. It was hand carved. The reliefs are women and turtles. The chest below the alter table is where I keep extra tools. herbs, and moon water.


This is the east wall. This will house a row of lower cabinets topped by bookshelves that go to the ceiling. I'm putting in bench under the window that will double as storage. They'll be white to match the trim.

This is the wast wall and closet. The corner will become a reading nook with a big chair, ottoman, and small side table. The wall where the desk is will be build out with upper cabinets, and a work surface the will have doors that I can close. This will be my 'home office'.

In the very corner, over the closet doors, and under the south window (in the reflection of the mirrored closet doors, which are going away), will be climbing/scratching posts and shelves for the cats.

As you can tell, I've got big plans for all my rooms. The goal is to complete most of the major projects within the next 2 years. One of the reasons I've invited you all in and shared so many details, is I'm hoping with will keep me on track. I'll post pictures as the projects progress.

Well, that concludes the tour of our home.

Thank you all again for coming. You're welcome any time.

Virtual Tour - Bed and Bath

This is our master bedroom. As it's just DD and me, the other 2 bedrooms are being used as an office and a library. Our bedroom has not been redecorated since we moved in 12 years ago. LOL! As you can see the walls are very white. I haven't really decided on a color for the walls, but I usually stick with earthy neutrals as a rule. I'm planning on replacing the bed frame with a platform bed with storage drawers underneath in a dark wood with a wood slate or leather headboard. (This house was built in 1953 and is obnoxiously short on storage.) I'm going to refinish the bedside tables to a dark mahogany.



This is the wardrobe I got from my Nannie and Grandaddy. No improvements needed here.

This is the matching vanity. Again, no improvements needed.

And this is our bathroom. There is only one picture as there is only one angle to take a photo from and that's the hallway. Did I mention the house was built in 1953? Not big on the luxury home spa in the 50's evidently. LOL the tub/shower is to the right of this picture. My plan is to replace the tub with a show stall with floating glass doors. The pink wall tile and the black/white floor tile will be gone as will the pink sink. My plan is to drywall the walls, and use matching 12 X 24 faux marble tiles on the shower walls/floor and continue them onto the floor of the room. the walls will be a pale see glass green and the sink will be on a small mahogany colored vanity.

Last but not least, let's look and the 'library'.

Virtual Tour - Dining Room

These are the steps from the kitchen to the dining room. We built these after we took down the wall that separated the two. The tiles on the end are ceramic and made to look like travertine, the smaller ones are slate. The ugly carpet will be replaced with wood some day.

Beside the stairs is the laundry nook. That's too sad to photograph now, but I have plans for that little room, too.

This is the view from the kitchen. Table is a family heirloom, and will showcased in the "new" decor.

The wood stove will be replaced with a wall mounted gas fireplace. The brick will be glazed, and we'll add a mantel and cabinetry.

This is the far corner. The hutch and the coat tree will be replaced with built in cabinets.

This whole end of the room will have built in cabinets. (That stack of boxes in the floor is the laminate for the floor.)

Next, we'll look and the bedroom and the "library".

Life Happens.

DD's mom, MD was taken back to the hospital last night. Her UTI has flared up again. The good news is the tests show that the bacteria is strep and not MRSA, so her latest round of antibiotics have been effective against the MRSA. Now we just need to get rid of the strep. She should be home in a couple of days.
I hate this for DD. This past year has been so very hard for him, his mom, and his brother and sister. She's been in and out of the hospital, numerous times,and because she's 84 years old, diabetic, and has congestive heart failure, everytime she's down for more than a few days, she has to go back into a rehab facility. It's just so scary for him.
We are thankful that this episode isn't more serious, and the prognosis looks very good. It also reminds me to be thankful for the health of all of our other loved ones.

Sorry for the sad news on such a happy day, and I truely wish love, light, health, and joy to all of you and yours this holiday season.

So, this is the kitchen. As you can see, this is a work in progress.

Unfortunately, we won't be able to save the cabinets. The house was built in 1953, and they are original. They have given their all. So the fridge is going to go where the dishwasher is now, and the dishwasher will be moved to the right toward the sink.
I'm hoping for a solid surfice counter. Quartz would be nice, right? I'd like to trade out the stove for a double oven. That pantry's going bye-bye. I know, it's a lot of storage, but it's very "un" user friendly storage.

This fridge will eventually be replaced with a french door/freezer on the bottom model, and that wall, that's between the kitchen and the living room will come down. I'm transforming it into a peninsula with a gas cook top.

This is the corner between the living room and dining room. It will become the new pantry.

Well, that's the kitchen. Let's head into the dining room next.