tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718Mon, 02 Sep 2024 08:49:24 +0000domestic violencegriefdiabetespeaceRabindranath TagorefaithsistersBarefoot ContessaCreative VisualizationIna GartenMarianne WilliamsonSUICIDEShakti Gawainangelsbutternut squash soupchildrenchronic illnessdivine spiriteasy Thanksgiving side disheseggplantfood and travelgeneralized anxiety disordergingerhopelasagneloss of a loved oneloss of a siblinglovelove and foodmurdermushroom lasagnapumpkin piewhipped toppingyorkies"Dumb Blonde""Gypsy Girl""the end of the road"80'sAGAPEANNE MORELL PETRILLOANNE SCRIPPS DOUGLASASPENSAlton BrownAlton Brown dietAnnie LeeArt therapyBREAST CANCERBeurre Noisette BrowniesBilly JackBrowned Butter BrowniesCDCCOLORADO ASPENSCYSTIC LUMPSCabbage saladCanningCarl Sandburg ShirtCaroline DouglasCaroline Douglas ArtChinese ProverbConcord Grape JellyCreativity TED talksDeepak ChopraDiabetes dietDomestic Violence HotlineEggplant pickling styleElizabeth GilbertEmmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris hairFateFood NetworkFood Network Lobster Mac and CheeseGingerbreadGod's loveGrape jellyHitlerHoward Becker's Labeling TheoryINTUITIONIna Garten Lobster Mac and CheeseIndian foodIndian poetryIndian recipesInsulinIsak DinesenJOHN WALSHJewsJuneJunebugLATE DIAGNOSISLONG'S PEAKLanguage ArtsMAMMOGRAMMTBIMac and CheeseMacBookMartha Whitmore HickmanMaya AngelouMuseNCADVNew Year's Eve dietOPRAHObamaOur Deepest FearPEAK TO PEAK HIGHWAYPierre-Auguste RenoirPreserving foodProvidenceRNRosemary bakingSUSAN MURPHY MILANO POSTSSinead O'Connor hair shaveStanford University Steve Jobs commencementSteve JobsSteve Jobs deathSunset magazine pumpkin soupSwiss ChardThanksgiving side dish saladThomas CarlyleTodd SniderUS stats on violenceValentine's day desertVictoria HartWalnut BrowniesWhole Foods crystallized ginger cookieWinston ChurchillYou LieZucchini breadadoptionagainst the worldangerapologyapple and Steve Jobsappy New Yeararborio riceartasparagus saladavocadobalancebeansbirdsbirthday cakebitchin'blessedblueberry smoothiebrain injury and artbutternut squashcarrotsceramic sculpturechamomile teacharitiescheese lasagnechicken and cheese lasagnachicken and cheese lasagnechicken tortilla soupchillieschocolate cakechocolate piechocolate pudding bottom pieclosetcold and flu dietcold and flu soupcoloradocondimentscontra mundumcookbook "Good to the Grain" by Kim Boycecookingcoriandercowcranberry conservecranberry relishcranberry saucecreamy risottocrystallized gingercumindancedandelion greensdatingdaughtersdestinationdestinydiamond nuggetsdiamondsdiet tipsdiscodragonflydreamdreamsecclesiasteseggplant casseroleeggsenergyenlightenmentethicsexercisefamilyfatiguefatiquefennelfluttering shirtfoodfood snobforgivenessfuneralfuneralsgadgarlic headginger cookiesginger recipesginger smoothieginger streuselginger's medicinal propertiesgirlfriendgiving upglucose metersgluttonygoalsgoat cheesegran marnier cranberry saucegratitudegratitude practicegray hairgreen ginger belly smoothiegreen ginger smoothieguestsgypsyhard boiled eggshatehead injuryheartheavenshoardingholiday cookinghonorhumanityhumorhypoglycemiaindigestioninsomnia treatmentironyirritable bowel therapyisolationjoyjoy of my lifekid's recipeskitchenlabelinglamblamb casserolelaughterleavinglifelife in balancelife's lessonslife's pathloaflosslove poemslove strifelustmac bookmannersmantramarriagemashed potatoesmedical dogsmeditationmental calm exercisemolassesmountain drivemountainsmurder and forgivenessmurder trialmushroom risottomusicnaturenightmaresnourishobstablespainpersonal growthphysical assaultpiepimentosporcini mushroomsporcini risottopositive energypositive vibespost traumatic stresspower of positive thinkingprosciuttopruningptsdpumpkin seedspumpkin souppuppy millspyschicquicheratatouillered peppersrefluxreligion and forgivenessrisky businessroasted garlicsagesalmonsarcasmschoolseesawsibling deathsilver hair colorsimple recipessisters murdersmoothiessocioeconomicsongsongwritersouthern expressionsspicy soupspirit tribespiritualitysquirrelstreusel pumpkin piesufferingsuffering in crowdssugarsunflowersteeter-totterthanksgiving dinnerthanksgiving sidestoasted walnutstomatotomato catsuptomato ketchuptortilla chicken souptraditiontravelertreestrue charactertrue selftruthturmericunending lovevacationviolence womenviolent deathwearing armorwhipped creamwhite sand beacheswholesomewildflowerswinter blueswinter soupwityogazenFinding Peace through writing about life experiences: the grande and the awful, sharing my love and passion for hope and faith in the improvement of the spirit and body through healthful food and nutrition, art, communication, love expression, rhythm, music, gardening, cooking and yes, the occasional rant. Step inside and take a ride, or a chill break.http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)Blogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-6756814412523183704Wed, 05 Mar 2014 01:30:00 +00002014-03-04T17:44:40.037-08:00 Today I took my rescue pup out on a hike, because I couldn't manage my emotions in any other way than ignoring them and giving a gift to someone other than myself. It did help, but the sun has fallen and my spirit is singing a sad song to me once again. To catch you up on things, I had my bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction surgery, that's 2 surgeries, the first in September and the http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2014/03/today-i-am-only-human.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-3364128099579656521Mon, 29 Jul 2013 05:50:00 +00002013-07-28T22:50:58.188-07:00My bilateral mastectomy is just a little over a month away on September 4th. This is a curious time, I'm not too interested in talking about the "cancer" or the "surgery" right now; I'm certain this is yet another coping mechanism to protect me from the scariness and the surrender that I know I would resist if I gave the surgery too much thinking energy. I, also, cannot bear to hear anyone speak http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2013/07/distraction-and-reflection-me-and-cancer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-1108830300643856824Thu, 04 Jul 2013 05:41:00 +00002013-07-05T23:35:28.549-07:00Okay, so it's true that I haven't posted here in a while, well, since March. That's when my life changed and things won't ever quite be the same for me. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April. But, let me back up a bit. Three years ago, my mother was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, with that I sought out genetic testing, which meant I had to meet with a genetic counselor after first http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2013/07/honey-theres-storm-coming.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-7311030273017057073Wed, 13 Mar 2013 03:28:00 +00002013-03-12T20:28:32.159-07:00My brother, Gary, and I ate a load of cornbread and beans as children. This was one of our Mother's favorite meals and she made it a lot. We didn't have much choice in the matter, so as my Mother would say, "if you are hungry, you will eat it"...so we did, mostly. My brother can barely even stand to speak of beans to this day, but cornbread, well, that is another story. This recipe post is for http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2013/03/jalapeno-cheddar-cornbread.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-7952440060460521654Fri, 17 Aug 2012 19:26:00 +00002012-08-17T12:26:28.947-07:00This is a great option for watermelon in the summer, when there is so much delicious watermelon around. I recently took this to a gathering of my artists friends and everyone said they expected it to be tomatoes! Yes, you could make this with tomatoes and basil, instead of mint and watermelon, if you do change out the feta for mozzarella and celebrate Caprese style! Hope you enjoy this, it is http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/08/watermelon-salad-with-mint.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-4689176357289206367Thu, 09 Aug 2012 03:17:00 +00002012-08-08T20:22:40.940-07:00...."Love and Peace of Mind do protect us, they allow us to overcome the problems that life hands us. they teach us to survive...to live now...to have the courage to confront each day and utilize our pain and  suffering as motivators and redirectors. ..."Illness and death are not signs of failure; what is a failure, is not living." ----Bernie Siegel I spent many a day in the years of http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/08/love-and-peace-of-mind-my-saviors.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-1637276186456149483Thu, 26 Jul 2012 03:24:00 +00002012-07-25T20:24:44.628-07:00It has been a tragic summer in Colorado. We have had several wild fires due to the drought and severely high temperatures for the state. Worse still, last week, we as a state, were once again victims of a mass shooting. This is the 3rd tragedy of this kind since I moved here in 1993...the Chucky Cheese shooting, Columbine, and this week's, Aurora shooting. I hesitate to blog about it, as I have http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/07/i-have-hope-for-human-race.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-4879246094630470744Wed, 18 Jul 2012 03:49:00 +00002012-07-17T20:49:06.318-07:00My husband recently started making these protein balls; he's begun an even advanced version of a healthy lifestyle lately. Everyone loves these. The ingredients are easily interchangeable, so you can add and subtract to your liking and create your own balls! We have made 3 different versions so far and, still, YUM! You can easily pat these into a cake pan and make bars instead of rolling into http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/07/gs-balls.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-1053943522351243764Wed, 11 Jul 2012 04:15:00 +00002012-07-10T21:15:13.952-07:00 Art is a relatively new world for me, following a head injury, I found I was only able to fully function when I was creating something. The world of art was a gift from a tragedy. Clay was introduced to me as a potential healing medium and healing it was. Nearly 2 years ago, I began studying ceramic sculpture. Always true to my nature to find ways to express myself as a witness to my life http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/07/me-and-my-art.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-2252310106979447469Fri, 06 Jul 2012 04:08:00 +00002012-08-14T18:44:48.170-07:00Viktor Frankl's book, "Search For Meaning,"  was the first book I picked up following the murder of my sister. When you are struggling to understand a moment in your life, a loss of any kind, I would recommend reading this book. Stand still and reflect on what really matters in your life, in this moment, without looking back or forward, without judgment, stand still and breath in and out; http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/07/viktor-frankl-search-for-meaning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-7952960320823472518Wed, 27 Jun 2012 04:05:00 +00002012-06-26T21:05:53.820-07:00THIS IS THE HEADLINE ON THE T.V. ANXIETY FILLS THE AIR ALONG WITH THE SMOKE WE WATCH HELPLESS AND FEARFUL FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND OURSELVES WE PRAY FOR RAIN WE PRAY FOR FREEDOM FROM THE SUFFERING IN OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE WE PRAY FOR FIRE FIGHTERS WHO FIGHT SELFLESSLY FOR OUR LIVES WE FEEL SORROW FOR THOSE EVACUATED AND HOMELESS WE WATCH AS THEY WORRY FOR THE STATE OF THEIR HOMES WE ACHE FOR THEM WE http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/06/colorado-is-burning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-9034565464986321498Wed, 27 Jun 2012 03:39:00 +00002012-06-26T20:39:26.519-07:00Quinoa is a high energy seed used as a grain that is easy to digest. It is a complete protein, meaning it has all of the essential amino acids to protein building in the body. It contains more calcium than milk, equals milk's protein content, and is high in the amino acid lysine--needed to lower cholesterol, for collagen production, important for bones and connective tissues including the skin, http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/06/yummy-healthy-quinoa-salad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-4223315021647152631Sat, 09 Jun 2012 06:06:00 +00002012-06-08T23:06:04.909-07:00 This is short today, but my words run deep from experience. Life is certainly unpredictable. Plans don't always happen and the worst, most unimaginable tragedies sometimes do. Life throws curve balls and my best advice to you is this: SWING, SWING ANYWAY, put your fear aside, close your jaw from the surprise, bandage your pain, and SWING AWAY! SWING AWAY! Play the game, always play http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/06/baseball-and-what-it-taught-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-7197412769251695084Tue, 05 Jun 2012 04:26:00 +00002012-06-04T21:26:15.308-07:00Believe it or not, I recently had a flu bug, yes, in June! I found this recipe online and truly the spices and flavors, the fruit and texture, were amazing. I don't know if they helped me get well, but I sure felt better while I was eating them! Ingredients 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/06/flu-fighter-cookies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-1070353407050742492Fri, 01 Jun 2012 05:24:00 +00002012-05-31T22:24:51.606-07:00 I've been so very busy with preparing for my first gallery exhibit that my husband has stepped up to the kitchen and prepared dinner many nights and, yes, even oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. These were spectacular, so much so that I wanted to share with you all. 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup margarine or butter, softened 1/4 cup shortening 1/2 teaspoon baking http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/05/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-7556644487451901637Mon, 28 May 2012 03:24:00 +00002012-05-27T20:24:14.654-07:00I am excited and honored to be fortunate enough to have my first gallery exhibition coming up next month for my ceramic sculpture. Blessed am I to have developed artistic abilities after having suffered a traumatic brain injury a few years back. Prior to this injury, I was not, in the least, artistic. I have no formative artistic education and cannot to this day draw a figure form. Following my http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/05/ceramic-sculpture-healing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-2924310754633784092Mon, 21 May 2012 04:21:00 +00002012-05-20T21:21:48.374-07:00Spring is an ideal time for salads made of grains. Farro is a type of wheat that is a great source of protein and iron, as well as fiber. This is the recipe we tried most recently and are looking forward to using farro in other combinations. Hope you enjoy it! FARRO SALAD WITH TOMATOES AND HERBS 4 cups of water 12 oz farro 2 tsp salt 1 pound tomatoes chopped 1/2 sweet onion chopped (ideallyhttp://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/05/farro-salad-with-tomatoes-and-herbs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-9210236501158892752Wed, 16 May 2012 05:28:00 +00002012-05-15T22:28:36.197-07:00 Sometimes everything is right, the air is easy to breath in and out and life is mundane and sweet...and then in walks someone with their drama into your easy peace and dumps a bucket of slop on  you; try to get that off. Really, some folks have so much attachment to the drama in their life they stockpile it, carry it around everywhere, and when they notice you, apparently, have none, theyhttp://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/05/practicing-peace.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-5109178053215786850Thu, 10 May 2012 17:36:00 +00002012-05-10T10:36:16.297-07:00 The work never ends you know....We are imperfect, but we can strive everyday to be better, kinder, more compassionate, more outside of ourselves, less about what we need and more about caring and helping those within our reach. Reaching this higher place takes constant attention and observation of one's thoughts and actions, which then may again lead one back to egocentric thinking, be http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/05/worth-thinking-about.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-1710503134679953704Tue, 01 May 2012 03:05:00 +00002012-05-01T16:01:39.978-07:00 Recently a friend of mine and I were discussing her new health challenges, after so many years of being fortunate with great health, she now was facing a diagnosis which required her to make significant life changes. She was complaining to me about how difficult the change was for her and then, with a rather smart tone, told me how it was so much easier for me because I'd been in really http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/04/chronically-human.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-5642496431561025086Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:23:00 +00002012-04-23T19:23:44.973-07:00 FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY 1. The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:               People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.             If you are kind, people mayhttp://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/04/good-to-remember-follow-and-pass-along.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-1122565107602068405Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:30:00 +00002012-04-15T20:30:10.221-07:00I made my homemade chicken soup today. I'm feeling a bit flu-like and really just couldn't manage to think of possibly eating anything else. I made a large amount, I thought, but, most of it was eaten by my family. I hope you find it an easy go-to recipe for your under-the-weather days and enjoy...to good health! Homemade Chicken Soup, Victoria's Way 1 red onion diced 4 stalks celery, with http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/04/homemade-chicken-soup-my-way.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-1768542054570263652Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:47:00 +00002012-04-10T18:47:56.481-07:00 I have grief today. It never ends on surprising me with it’s presence, coming silently with the force of a raging river. The more I struggle to ignore it, the louder it’s scream. So, I write. My younger half-sister was here to visit last week and it seems it came with her, along with a jagged anxiety which I can’t seem to shake either. The darkness, the emptiness, the loneliness, that http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/04/grief-in-life-of-spring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-2272973134965901328Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:10:00 +00002012-03-26T21:10:46.674-07:00 I found myself in a conversation a few days ago with other chronically ill women and we were talking about that old taboo subject of suicide. You might find that peculiar, absurd, ridiculous, sinful, or just not something you would ever entertain. We didn't find it to be any of those things. In fact, to us, it was as normal as any other mediocre conversation one might have anywhere, anytimehttp://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/03/chronic-illness-and-suicide.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722559918647661718.post-8762703146416454486Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:30:00 +00002012-03-21T04:38:59.455-07:00murder and forgivenessreligion and forgivenesssibling deathForgiveness. Google that and you'll find 56,200,000 results. It is no wonder so many are asking "how" to forgive and what does forgiveness entail; maybe the answer lies with the individual. Recently, I found myself in a discussion, once again, on how does one forgive. This question was presented by a friend of mine suffering to forgive her father for molesting her as a child. I was compelled to http://auntievlifeandcookery.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-i-know-about-forgiveness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Victoria Hart)2