The Sun

The sun is shining. We have had over a week of straight rain and clouds and boy that can do very bad things to one's mood. Especially if you are already struggling with your mood!!! But today the sun is shining and the skies are blue. 

Lyrics from a Rihanna song, Towards the Sun.

Turn your face towards the sun

Let the shadows fall behind you

Don't look back, just carry on

And the shadows will never find you.

This is the new view from our kitchen.

So I have been thinking about art lately and living in the moment. I know that may seem like two separate topics but I think when one is creating art, they are completely in the moment and all else seems to fade away except the piece they are working on. 

These are two pictures I have hanging in my house. Both are extremely talented artists and young. Ray Friedman (left) and Sofia De Rossi (right). Forgive my depictions of their wonderful pieces. I think about their abilities to see things that others don't see or can see but can't translate. It is truly wonderful and incredibly inspiring. I hope they realize how talented they are. 

I have also been thinking again about cell phones and social media and its role in society, especially among children. I have such mixed emotions about it all. For example, I love the creative outlet that instagram can provide but I dislike the harmful ways in which kids can be hurt and the overt actions (and reactions) that can occur. I despise the completely passive aggressive patterns it can instill in kids. This is a different world that children are navigating now and I feel I have to allow them to participate because they need to figure it out but boy it does bring up difficult emotions for me. I want to make sure they don't forget to talk and communicate. As we know as adults, communication is so paramount.

I realize that I am participating on social media too, by posting on a blog, being on Facebook (with which I lately have a love-hate relationship) but I guess I am experiencing an awareness now, especially because of what I have been going through in my own personal life over the past few months. 

Finally, I have been struck by the very many mean actions among people. It takes more energy to be mean. Choose to be kind. It feels good and it makes the sun shine a little more. It makes the sky a little more blue and it turns the corners of your mouth upward.

Now, put on a song I can't listen to without smiling or tapping my feet (or downright car dancing). It is from Teen Beach 2 (don't laugh!! Or ok, laugh!!), Gotta Be Me by Ross Lynch, Maia Mitchell and Garrett Clayton, etc), and get cooking. 

My friend, Dana Friedman, gave me this recipe and I tried it on Halloween at her house. I made it the very next week and it was a huge hit with the family and so very SIMPLE. I also love the fact that you can personalize each bowl AND it is made in the slow cooker!!!!

Malaysian Pork Curry Noodle Soup, Family Circle, October 2015

3lbs boneless pork shoulder

1 large yellow onion, diced (I used half)

1 3-inch piece ginger, peeled and chopped

3 cloves garlic

2 cups unsalted chicken stock

1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk

2T lime juice

1T curry powder

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt (I omitted)

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1 box (8 oz) pad thai rice noodles

Scallions and chow mein noodles (optional)

Place pork shoulder, onion, ginger and garlic in bottom of slow cooker. In a bowl, whisk stock, coconut milk, curry powder, sugar, 1/2 tsp of the salt and the red pepper flakes. Pour over pork. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours or low for 8 hours. 

Using tongs, carefully remove pork to a cutting board and shred. (Mine fell apart in the crockpot -I shredded with two forks in the crockpot). Stir in remaining 1/2 tsp salt into liquid and return shredded pork to slow cooker. Meanwhile, prepare rice noodles per package directions.

Divide rice noodles among 8 bowls (we used less), then ladle some pork and broth on top. Garnish with scallions and chow mein noodles, if using.

YUM! Enjoy and have a great day everyone. Happy Veterans Day - thank you to everyone has served and protected our country so that we can live the lives we live.