THE VILULA TEA GARDEN

...it was a little tea room in my memories...ladies wearing white gloves and pretty hats; soft and mended old linens on the tables; and heirloom roses in crystal vases....lovely.

January 21, 2012

Haute Couture for babies!

Oh my goodness! I stumbled on this blog watching loom knitting on Youtube and I am just astounded! Her designs look like Vogue Knitting patterns! Gorgeous...check out her blog


She also has an Etsy shop for patterns...


GREAT new book!

Since I am a messie living in a house with practically NO storage, this book may be a lifesaver for me! I LOVE organizing books~unfortunately, I sit on the couch with a Diet Coke and read them instead of utilizing them...this one actually look like I will use it...on to Amazon to get it, quick!!!

http://kathrynbechenink.blogspot.com/

January 12, 2012

It's a Lifestyle, not a Diet!

Well, I have joined Calorie King again...$49.00 special for the year if you join before January 31st! I joined Calorie King several years ago when I was a School Nurse in an elementary school. It really helped me stay on track to lose some weight and after Cervical Spine Surgery 2009, I lost 30 lbs. I have kept it off for two and a half years. My husband is having back trouble now and at the request of his doctor, he is eating lots of fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts, whole grains and low-fat protein. We eat a bowl of old-fashioned oatmeal every morning. I put dried fruit, sliced almonds, and cinnamon and Splenda in his...I like mine without the fruit. He is losing fast, but not too fast and feels so much better already. I really need to lose 10 more lbs. to be in the healthy range for my apple build...hence, the Bento lunches...love those Bentos!

January 10, 2012

Bento Again

Haven't been doing Bento meals in a long while, but with hubby's weight-loss program and our new way of healthy eating, I decided to do it again. I have always loved Bento and really, all things Japanese for a long long time...when I lived in San Antonio twenty plus years ago, I had a dear friend named Michiko White, who taught me to love Japanese food...especially putting a tiny little cap of rice vinegar on my 'sticky' rice...so good.
Bento (a meal that is packed into a box) meals are essentially eye-candy. They are always colorful, healthy, and ever so good! Since I love to eat organic whole and clean and 'slow' foods as much as I can, this is a great way to do it, and it enables you to use portion control as well.

If you check out the 'blogs I love to visit' area of this blog, you will notice two that are dedicated to Bento...it's worth your time to link up with them. Also, on the Just Bento blog, I found that Makiko Itoh has written a great book, "Just Bento Cookbook"...it just came from Amazon via my trusty UPS man and I am dying to get into it! I already have several Bento boxes, including a Hello Kitty one my sweet daughter gave me, along with Hello Kitty chopsticks, no less! heehee

You can find Bento boxes all over the Internet, now, including Amazon...it was a little harder years ago when I was looking for one...you will find they are exceptionally low in price for you penny-pinchers ( of which most are, nowdays)...You can also go the way of the beautiful lacquer boxes that are pricier...to each his own.

Remember, a Bento box lunch is more than just a lunch...it's packed with just a little extra care and love - a pleasure to eat, look at, and enjoy...Join me on my healthy eating plan and let me know how you do! Pictures, please....you can go to Pinterest, if you haven't yet, you should, and see some beautiful Bento box lunches, too...more later!



January 5, 2012

Greek Tilapia over Wilted Spinach | Fish Recipes | Just A Pinch Recipe Club

Greek Tilapia over Wilted Spinach | Fish Recipes | Just A Pinch Recipe Club


GREEK TILAPIA OVER WILTED SPINACH
Added by Scott Anderson [Chef_Scott] on Jan 8, 2011
Scott from Shepherdstown, WV (pop. 4,514) says:
This came direct from Clean Eating. The image shows cod over couscous. I simply changed the cheese to Wisconsin Feta instead of low-fat feta and substituted grapeseed oil for olive oil. The grapeseed oil takes high heat and doesn't impart any flavor thus the nature flavor of the food shines through. I like to garnish with fresh pepper and salt and lemon zest. You can also use a nice crumbly Wisconsin Blue cheese in place of the feta.
Cook time:15 Min Difficulty:EASY
Prep time:10 Min Serves:2
- 2 tilapia fillets (you can substitute haddock, cod or
halibut)
- 8 sweet grape tomatoes, sliced
- 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh italian-leaf parsley
- 3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 lg shallots, diced
- 1 Tbsp grapeseed oil
- 8 oz baby spinach
- 1/3 c wisconsin feta cheese, keep 1 tbsp reserved for
garnish
- pinch fresh ground black pepper
- pinch fresh ground sea salt
- 1 tsp fresh lemon zest pieces

1. Preheat oven 350F. Place fillets and tomatoes in a glass baking dish. Sprinkle garlic and parsley over top and finish with lime juice. Cover with foil and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

2. In a skillet over medium-high heat, saute shallots in oil for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium and add spinach, cooking until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in feta and heat until melted and evenly distributed.

3. To serve, place 3/4 cup spinach-feta mixture on each plate and lay 1 fillet over top, finishing with half of tomatoes. Garnish with fresh cracked black pepper, salt, a few pieces of fresh lemon zest and sprinkle on reserved feta.


Could not resist sharing this....my sweet husband and I are eating LOTs of organic greens, fruit, nuts, and seeds...some healthy meat(4 oz.)or eggs most days. If we eat any carbs/starches, they are complex carbs like 1/2 baked potato, ground flaxseed, hummus, quinoa, stone-ground whole grains, and Irish oatmeal every day for breakfast. He says he has never felt better and is dropping pounds! I may drop some but right now don't want to lose more than 10 lbs...not that I am Twiggy, but I lost when I had the C-spine surgery. I had to buy all new clothes and need to stay in those clothes! Anyway, stay tuned for more healthy recipes...hope you all had a fabulous New Year!

My Mother and I are starting the year again with Kay Arthur, this time studying Jeremiah! So-o-o-o good! Check out www.preceptsforlife.com! We are also reading our Bibles through again...this time I am reading in the NIV Chronological Bible...it gives you a reading for everyday. Sometimes, I can't do that, so I try to catch up that week. I don't think it is the LAW for anyone to do it, but just never had and wanted to give it a try in 2011. I enjoyed it so much and learned so much about God that I want to do it every year, if possible...what are your thoughts? Have a great weekend! xxxPaula

January 2, 2012

Contest!!! Win This!

Look at this cute mixed media painting by Kelle Arvay!.....enter the contest from her blog to win and FREE shipping anywhere! Here's the link: http://www.LittleVintageTrailer.com

Linky

Roxy

Roxy

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The apron I made for theFlirty/Sassy Swap!