Deep Bites of Thought

Cooking with Rigatoni

2013-11-22T17:32:00.004-08:00

Cooking with rigatoni is something different that I don't normally cook with. It takes me more time to decide the type of meal I want to create as it does not go with just anything. I decided to make a double dish entree and the results were scrumptious.

Rigatoni in Chili with Beans

Ingredients:

- 1/2 pound Rigatoni Pasta Noodles

- 1/2 cup of French Green Beans

- 1 can of Chili with Beans

- 1/3 cup of chopped White Onion (Yellow onions are okay.)

- 1/3 cup of sliced Carrots

- 1/4 cup of chopped Green Onions

- 1 clove of Garlic, diced

- 1/2 of a medium Tomato, sliced and diced

- 1 cup of Tomato Sauce with Basil and Garlic

- 1/2 teaspoon of Oregano

- 1/2 teaspoon of Basil

- 1/2 teaspoon of Thyme

- 1/2 teaspoon of Seasoned Salt (Morton's is used.)

- 1/2 teaspoon of Olive Oil

Personal Instructions:

- Boil and drain rigatoni pasta noodles

- Stir fry the onion, green onions, tomato in olive oil

- Once the onions, green onions and tomato soften, add the chili with beans 1/4 at a time to blend.

- Add the oregano, basil, thyme and seasoned salt

- Add the carrots and tomato sauce

- Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Leave covered for 20 minutes.

- After the 20 minutes, bring to lowest flame/heat and wait an additional 10 minutes

- Turn off and leave covered for 5 minutes before serving

Note: You can use chili without beans, if preferred.

Side Dishes: Serve with a Garden Salad

Rigatoni with French Green Beans and Spinach in Cream of Mushroom

Ingredients:

- 1/2 pound Rigatoni Pasta Noodles

- 1/2 cup of French Green Beans

- 1/2 cup of Soy Milk

- One 12 oz can of Cream of Mushroom

- 1/3 cup of shredded fresh Spinach

- 1/2 teaspoon of Thyme

- 1 slice of Provolone Cheese cut into strips

Personal Instructions:

- Boil and drain rigatoni pasta noodles, and set aside

- Bring to a boil the cream of mushroom with the soy milk and thyme. Lower the heat to medium-low once well blended

- Add the provolone to the cream of mushroom and stir until it's melted completely

- Add the rigatoni a little at a time and mix well until all pasta is covered in the sauce; continue to simmer

- Add the green beans and spinach and blend until all is well mixed

- Cover and leave on low heat for an additional 10 minutes

- Turn off and leave covered for 5 minutes before serving

Note: You can add croutons in the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Side Dishes: Serve with a Garden Salad or Tomato Soup

* Both of these dishes done at the same time take no more than 30 minutes to prepare and serve.

Dinner was served with a small glass of chardonnay wine.

Dessert: One serving of Triple Chocolate

November 15, 2013

Images and content may not be reproduced, in part or as a whole, for the purposes of selling or redistribution.

Should I Disappear

2013-11-15T15:00:00.005-08:00

... know that I loved you well

Should I disappear, rest assured that whereever I go, you are with me. Should I disappear, and I left no forwarding address, don't worry about it for I know where I am going. Should I disappear, don't think for a moment that it was about you.

Should haves have become a regular thought a process as of late. I should have done this. I should have done that. This never should have happened. That never should have happened.

What holds you back? What are all the "if only" but regrets upon looking back? Should I disappear?

You are surrounded by people that pass you by and, as you look into their faces, you only see through them like a glass to see the other side seeing nothing; but yet you do. You are looking dead ahead without turning your head; without connecting with their eyes. You believe that the minute you allow yourself that moment, they will know what you are hiding. Should I disappear?

The people who know you never call. You don't wonder why and yet don't even bother to call them to see how they are doing. You wonder if they even care and the desire to call is even lesser. The ones you know then become as strangers as they forget who you are, how you are and what you like. Should I disappear?

The thought of disappearing continues to show up and, the more it appears, it lingers longer every time. Is it an escape? Is it an avoidance? Is it even rational? In the mind's eye of the person who is processing these thoughts, they believe that it is rational. It's not conventional but to them it is. Everyone defines differently where the line is drawn and to the person thinking of disappearing has lost the location of that boundary. The main focus goes directly to that same thought; to disappear.

The behavior analysis of such shows clearly that the person, you, is reaching that breaking point; a nervous breakdown. It can lead to psychotic behavior. The person becomes withdrawn and depressive. If the person, you, is already an introvert then the damage is harder to detect and studying the behavior becomes more intent. It would take a person thinking out of the box who knows you and is not involved to see the difference.

© Libby Baez, All Rights Reserved
Thru Libby's Eyes, ©

Images and content may not be reproduced, in part or as a whole, for the purposes of selling or redistribution.

Bridging The Timeline Of Trust

2013-11-06T01:11:00.002-08:00

Trust is the one thing that takes time to build between any two people. That trust can be between a family member, a co-worker, a friend, an acquaintance and even your landlord. When we hand over our trust it is something that we should not carry in our hands to where it can fall and break like glass. That leads to too much heart break because it is not protected.

Once you bridge the gap of time and realize you do give your trust to someone you know, you should be able to look back and notice a timeline. If that timeline isn't there, then you really haven't accomplished you thought that was there. This is why in today's society people don't easily open up to others very much. As much as we all as human beings want to share with others, we keep ourselves guarded and, thus, that heart is no longer unprotected. It is kept behind thick brick wall.

The timeline is truly important and I will tell you why. You can't possibly be able to absolutely trust anyone within a few weeks time. Bridging the gap of trust is in actuality a continual process in our life span. At any given time, the persons that we love can fail us and the trail of broken glass can be a long road.

Think long and hard about that timeline because it is always going to critical over a lengthy period whether or not that trust is truly there.

© Libby Baez, All Rights Reserved
Thru Libby's Eyes, ©

Images and content may not be reproduced, in part or as a whole, for the purposes of selling or redistribution.