We don’t eat pork chops very often, so I thought I would check out a new recipe. After searching for different ways to prepare your thick cut bone in chop, I settled on this yummy sweet rub from Hey Grill Hey. It’s not quite grilling temperature here, so I sear in a cast iron and pop it in the oven at 450°F.
This recipe was easy to make and gave the pork a wonderful flavor, I was a little generous with the cayenne and loved the spice it added. We paired with sautéed green beans and mashed sweet potatoes.
Do you have a favorite pork recipe you think I should try? Check this one out below
♧Ingredients♧ 4 pork chops
Signature Sweet Rub ¼ cup dark brown sugar 1 Tablespoon coarse kosher salt 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 2 teaspoons garlic powder 2 teaspoons onion powder 1 teaspoon ground mustard ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
♧Instructions♧ 1.Make the rub. Combine all ingredients for the rub in a small bowl and set aside. 2.Preheat. Allow the grill to preheat to medium-high heat (around 400 degrees F) for two-zone cooking (one direct heat side and one indirect heat side). 3.Season. Season the pork chops with Sweet Rub on all sides and press the rub into the meat. 4. Sear. Place the chops on the hottest part of the grill and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side. 5.Finish grilling. Move the chops to the indirect heat side of the grill and continue cooking for an additional 5-6 minutes per side until the internal temperature of the pork chops reaches 145 degrees F. 6.Rest and serve. Remove the chops from the grill and allow them to rest for 5-6 minutes before slicing.
Anyone else feel burnt out from all the activities over summer? I am. Some people are planners, but I am not one of them. I prefer to go with the flow and decide what to do day of. For the sake of my toddler getting some socialization we have been busy doing playdates multiple times a week since Spring. I am burnt out. I need a break from making plans. How do you tell your friends you don’t want to hang out, without hurting their feelings?
I am not sure either. So here we are, almost halfway through November and I have done fantastic with my No plan- plan, I guess I got lucky with colds and a Montessori conference, but I think I am to the point I will just have to say something and hope my dear friends do not take it personal. We have gone out to eat once with another family – but that was planned and arranged by my husband, so still on track with my weird goal.
Today’s world has me feeling like I must be depressed if I don’t want to hang out with people, but I don’t feel that way. I really enjoy alone time and embracing a season of rest, decluttering, cleansing, and reset. We aren’t being completely antisocial either. We have been to the playground several times and Malia always manages to make a friend and I end up talking to said friend’s mom. Perhaps in these conversation, the inner questions will unfold and be answered.
I feel like my soul is calling out to slow down, sit alone with my thoughts, conserve energy, and deal with one thing at a time, as I follow the prompts from within. Planning doesn’t allow me to be as present. Most of the summer felt like a race of cleaning, teaching, hiking, and errands. Winter is a wonderful time to slow down and breath. When you hike down a snow covered trail, the peaceful-serene feeling is inexplicable. I can’t clear my head on a hike if someone else is walking beside me talking, which is why I prefer to go alone. It’s my therapy. Anybody else need alone time to reset?
In honor of being more present this month, I am sticking to No Plans November. You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, and let go and see what happens. Que Sera, Sera.
Hope you enjoyed your weekend! Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos give us plenty to celebrate. Since we touched on Halloween last week, I wanted to share a healthy snack we made for Dia de Los Muertos.
I turned to Chris, while sipping our morning coffee, and asked him what he wanted to add to the celebration alter for Sunday. A soft smile came across his face as he told me about his dear friend, Mathew Kennen, and how much he liked the Buffalo Cauliflower at Zokas, one of the best restaurants ever in Pine, CO. So week 44, in remembrance of our dear friend Mat, is Buffalo Cauliflower ❤ NFA
Buffalo Cauliflower
1 to 1.5 head cauliflower, cut into florets (you’ll need about 4 to 5 cups)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
1/2 cup almond flour
3 tablespoons dried parsley
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoning Salt
Instructions
Place cauliflower florets in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
Melt butter; stir in olive oil and hot sauce until thoroughly combined.
Pour the hot sauce mixture over the cauliflower; mix around until all cauliflower florets are coated.
In a separate bowl whisk together almond flour, dried parsley, garlic powder, and seasoning salt.
Sprinkle about a handful at a time of almond flour mixture over the cauliflower; gently mix until everything is coated.
Transfer half of the prepared cauliflower to the air fryer.
Air fry at 350˚F for 14 minutes, shaking a couple times during the cooking process. Cauliflower is done when the florets are a bit browned, but not mushy.
Remove cauliflower from the Air Fryer; set aside and keep covered.
Repeat the same process with the remaining cauliflower florets.
Serve with celery or carrot sticks and your favorite ranch dressing.
Dia de Los Muertos is an ancient tradition celebrated in Mexico and other places around the world. During this holiday, people take time to remember and celebrate family and friends who have passed away. Although it’s called “day of the dead”, the celebration lasts for several days! Dia de Los Muertos is for celebrating the beauty of life and death rather than mourn it, it reminds us to enjoy life all year round and to honor our loved ones, this way they stay in our hearts forever.
Popcorn for my Grandma, buffalo cauliflower plus dip for Mat, breakfast essentials for my ride or die Sean, string cheese (and the peacock cloth) for my dear friend Jamie, a Cigar for Chris’s Papi, and dog treats for our furry family. We love you 🖤
We also made Atole to continue our celebration this morning. Atole (ah-toe-lay) is a drink made with masa, finely ground corn flour. When chocolate is added, it becomes champurrado (cham-poor-ah-doe). The word “atole” is derived from Nahuatl, the still-living language of the Aztecs, who were defeated by Hernan Cortez in 1521 in what is now Mexico City. Atole was popular long before Cortez surprised Montezuma with a visit, so the people of Mexico have been drinking atole for many centuries, probably millennia. That’s really no surprise as atole is, in fact, probably the easiest way imaginable to consume corn, a crop first cultivated in the Americas. Just add water to ground corn, and voila: atole.
Atole is like very thin porridge. Served warm, it’s an excellent way to take the chill off a cold morning. Relatively quick and easy to prepare, atole is frequently consumed at breakfast or after dinner, but can be enjoyed any time of day.
ATOLE
3 cups water
9 Tbsp. Turbinado sugar or brown sugar cane
1 whole cinnamon sticks
10 Tbsp. corn flour
A pinch of salt
3 cups whole milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Nutmeg (optional)
Instructions
Add water, brown sugar cane and cinnamon sticks to large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Bring water to boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar.
Meanwhile, in medium bowl using whisk, whisk together masarica, salt and milk until completely smooth. Pour masarica mixture into pot with sugar mixture and bring liquid to boil, whisking occasionally; reduce heat to low. Stir in vanilla extract and continue cooking, whisking occasionally, until mixture is smooth and thick, about 10 minutes more. The atole is ready when the drink coats the back of wooden spoon.
Remove pot from heat. Divide atole evenly among serving mugs. Sprinkle with nutmeg if that sounds nice.. Serve warm.
I went to a CA meeting on New Year’s Eve. The gentleman sharing was 21 years old. He had 5 years clean. I instantly judged him as not credible. He didn’t have enough experience. He didn’t have enough to lose.
Then he said something that instantly made me feel terrible about my judgments. “It doesn’t matter if you hit rock bottom or not we are all here for the same reason.” We go to meetings because we have a problem, we keep it anonymous to not be judged, we all agree we need help and that we cannot stay clean doing it alone.
I felt horrible for having that initial thought, but that’s the point right? To catch ourselves if we do something wrong, recognize the error, and make it right. I realized this initial thought was silly based on one of my own beliefs. You only hit rock bottom when you die, if you are still alive there is still room for improvement. If you aren’t alive, you never have a chance to make things right. It doesn’t take a major life event to open your eyes to your addiction or a developing addiction. Sometimes all it takes is a realization that alcohol or drugs are causing you more pain then the pain you aim to escape from. Meetings are to give hope, to know you’re not alone, and something greater can help you conquer your addiction in despair.
Pain is the touchstone of spiritual growth. It is important to stop pursuing whatever your idea of perfection is, you will never be happy if you aim for such an ideal. Find beauty in the littlr things. Happiness is appreciating what you have, not getting what you want.
Sobriety is a journey not a destination. I am excited to see what 2018 has in store for me!
This week has been rough emotionally for me. No reason why. Just sad. Maybe the solar flares a couple days ago had an effect? Perhaps mercury retrograde is placing a spin on things? Could be the stress from the holidays and scrambling to get the “appropriate” gifts for everyone. Either way, sometimes these “emotional funks” come and it can be impossible to leave your bed.
Occasionally they pass, and other times you must pull yourself out. The best way I have found to do this is by re-accessing my goals and making sure I am still on the path to achieving them and remembering what I am grateful for.
Today I put a little Donatello Ninja figurine at my desk. Although this action may look as though I am trying to preserve my youth, it has a deeper representation for me. The name Donatello has Latin, Italian, and Spanish roots and means “Gifts or Given from God”. Placed on my desk today as a reminder to hold gratitude for all the gifts we already have, counting all the blessings that continually enter my life.
Natarajasana, Lord of the Dance Pose. Nata means “dancer”, raja means “king”, and asana means “posture”. Nataraja was a name given to the Hindu God Shiva, the great destroyer, in his form as the cosmic dancer.
I have always been in love with dance and utilizing different ways of movement to express myself. Breathing in this pose feels so right. Natarajasana stretches the shoulders, chest, thigh, groins, and abdomen. It strengthens the legs and ankles while improving balance. This pose is an opportunity to cultivate an ability to shift out of the multi-tasking mentality the world seems to demand and move into this essential, centralized energy and space.
Looking to open and balance some of your chakras? This pose is great for encouraging love, personal power, and creativity by activating the heart, solar plexus, and sacral chakras.
Natarajasana is metaphorically dancing through our samsaras. Why is it that we refuse at times to see ourselves as divine beings?
This pose requires and builds full-body strength, flexibility, and coordination. Do not do this pose if you have an ankle, knee or low back injury, are currently experiencing low blood pressure, dizziness, migraines, or insomnia. So how do you get into it?
1. Begin in Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
2. Shift your weight to your left foot
3. Bend right leg to bring right heel toward sit bone
4. Draw the knees together and scoop the tailbone down while hugging the mid-line with both thighs
5. Raise your right arm up overhead while simultaneously kicking the right foot high to the sky connecting the right hand to the inside of your foot. If it’s available raise your left hand to meet your right foot as well, otherwise let it float, palms up in front of you.
6. Pull right ribs and hip forward while drawing in your right shoulder socket – working to square off the torso to the front
7. Lift through your heart, draw your belly in, and continue to hug towards the mid-line
8. Allow your drishti to be at the middle finger of your left hand (about third eye level)
… And now just breath. (Don’t forget to do the other side!)
Modifications:
Bow a the waist reaching heart forward
Holding toe of back foot pull elbow up with arm now reaching back over side of head
Use a strap wrapped around top of foot of lifted leg
For gentle variation stand with a wall 2 feet in front of you to balance
Utilize this pose to dance through your own samsaras, recognize what kleshas you fall in to and how to move through them. Not sure what a klesha is? Stay tuned … 🙂
Reflection
Provides action
Fueled by intentions.
Prophecies mention
Conscious evolution,
Dawning of revolution
Pursued by intuition.
Manifestations in fruition
Abundance of ambition.
Love based creation
Sensory stimulation
Provides high elation
And cerebral vacation.
Intelligent revelation
Dissembling segregation
Unity of dedication
Thoughts provoke rotation
Change of motivation
Divine intervention
Of spiritual ascension.
Singular connections,
Crumbling of institutions,
Emerging from pollution,
When are we gonna break the constitution?
Opening the Third eye of the nation
Melting self-castigation.
Ensuing a notion
A primal devotion
It’s time to shift perception,
Beginning a galactic realization.
Are you ready to take a step in this new direction?
Namaste, an everyday salutation for the population of Asia is the basis of greeting someone with respect, equality, and gratitude. Namaḥ means ‘bow’ and te means ‘to “you’; the literal definition of Namaste is “bowing to you”. In Hinduism culture and for most yogis it also has an esoteric reflection. “I honor the place in you that is the same as me. I honor the place in you where the whole universe resides. I honor the place in you of love, of light, of peace and of truth. I honor the place in you that is the same in me. The divine light in me recognizes the divine light in you.”
This greeting is displayed by placing the hands in prayer formation in front of the heart center or the third eye chakra. This same posture has been found in many terracotta figures during excavations for Indus civilization; these clay figures of artistic and religious expression date back to 3000 BC – 2000 BC.
What would it be like to look into your own eyes with a mirror, place your hands together in front of your chest, bow your head, relax your eyes, and say Namaste out loud? Are you able to honor your divine being and respect yourself? Are you equal to your counterparts? If you can, start every day with this deep and powerful greeting, all you need is a mirror. Love, acceptance, light, peace, and truth begins with self, and radiates further than the people you pass a kind word or smile to throughout your day. Give yourself confidence, fill your heart with light, and lift others up in the process.
“At the end of the day, I am at peace because my intentions are good and my heart is pure.”
Improve and maintain health We all have our own healing energy. We heal easier when our energy is high. But over time, we use up this energy. Reiki brings this healing energy back and supports the body’s natural ability to heal.
Studies have proven that reiki helps patients heal faster and with less pain. It allows a normal healthy flow of energy to resume and washes away any negativity lodged in the body; hence, allowing the body to heal.
A growing number of physicians are recognizing the benefits of Reiki. In fact, studies show that about 15% of hospitals and medical facilities across the country have been offering this healing practice to help ease pain and speed recovery.
Cultivate more positive emotions Reiki provides great relief during emotional distress. This healing practice allows you to let go of negative emotions and replaces them with feelings of trust, care and love. It improves your capacity for empathy and enhances your capability to love. Because of this, it helps strengthen personal relationships and opens you up to the people around you.
Relieve stress
Stress reduction is one of the greatest benefits provided by reiki. The light touch of reiki provides a sense of calmness. It encourages you to let go of negative emotions, fear, anxiety and stress. 5 minutes of reiki a day can provide a calming, lasting benefit.
Interested in receiving the healing treatment or training of your own? Reach out to me and I can guide you in the right direction!
Elevating Balance 