The Word Love

Refried Beans, Done Right :)

Getting prepped this afternoon so I can leave dinner for the family before heading out to work -and Bean & Cheese Burritos it is. I made the beans from scratch and they taste wayyyy better than the canned stuff. They're worth the extra few minutes of time! If you don't have time to soak beans, just use drained canned pintos. I used my friends words of bean cooking advice to make these; fry garlic & onion until translucent in 3 tbsp ish of oil, then I added a vegetarian bouillon in a 1/4 cup of water and 4 cups of soft drained pinto beans into the oil. Stir and mash while they're hot. I might never used a pre-made can of Old El Paso again. Ever. 

Broken Heart Syndrome ..As Described By A Surgeon

I came across this video this morning which ironically was posted on December 16th, 2012 the day I learned my baby had died and had to be soon delivered. I am one of those mothers who has been handed her still hearted baby to hold as described in her story. From a grieving mom's perspective, this doctor sorta gets it.
I had heard his soul through the doppler in my doctors office just a few days earlier. I felt his spirit tumble inside me when he moved. I was scared about a lot of things during this pregnancy but most of all I was afraid that these energies would all end as soon as I had him. But they didn't. I felt like I was going to die of a broken heart in the weeks following his death until the foggy head started to lift a bit and I began to realize he is still a part of me; I do still feel him. When I'm drawn to visit his grave, my heart swells with energy from him. I become emotional when my broken heart emerges to soak up some love and give it the boost it needs to get me through my day. Other times I go to give out the love I need Declan to have from me. Regardless though, I always leave there with a sense of calm in my soul and warmth in my heart because of our connection.
The doctor in this video wants to understand and a lot of what she says makes sense to me. Broken Heart Syndrome is a feeling and this surgeon does a great job at trying to describe what it all means.

Banana Bread; Memories Of The Cottage Style

At my friends cottage last weekend they made banana bread and the smell was heavenly. Now that we're back home and in routine I'm trying to zone back into the cottage life just a little by making a loaf here. This is the basic version; in the loaf I made today I added a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg and a drop of pure vanilla extract. Also a few milk chocolate chips and a handful of walnuts made their way into the bowl :) I topped the loaf with a sprinkle of brown sugar before baking to give it a bit of a crust. Now I just need a hammock here at home to swing in while it bakes!

INGREDIENTS

2	cups all-purpose flour
1	teaspoon baking soda
1/4	teaspoon salt
1/2	cup butter
3/4	cup brown sugar
2	eggs, beaten
2 1/3	cups mashed overripe bananas

INSTRUCTIONS

1.	Directions
2.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
3.	In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten, don't over mix or it will fe too dry. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
4.	Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. (Careful you don't poke banana and think it's underdone!) Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

My Favourite Food

While tidying up I came across this little note that I've never seen before written by my eight year old ..it made me smile inside and out! 

In The End...

Blackfish ~Documentary

Last night I saw the movie Blackfish with a group of people I organize with. Because of all the years I've spent being an advocate for animals, I really expected I wouldn't learn anything new from this film. I thought I had heard it all before but went to refresh what I already know and enjoy a night out. Instead I left the theatre with a wealth of knowledge. I gained insight as to how the trainers are trained. I saw the clip from the capture of Tillicum who has lived his life in a bathtub instead of the natural habit he came from. Horrified, I watched on film humans separate a mother and baby because the little one was a distraction to the mother during performances at Seaworld; always wanting to be by her side. I saw the torment she suffered, I heard the blood curdling cries she screamed and could relate to her grief all too well. I felt this film, I didn't just watch it. Everyone should see this movie. And afterwards, whoever is capable of stepping foot in an aquarium park, zoo or anywhere else that holds animals captive is simply ..heartless.

Greek Spanakopita Pie

• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 1 tpsp olive oil plus 1/4 cup olive oil for brushing
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
• 2 cups crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch pepper
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• 8 sheets phyllo pastry 

Sautee spinach for 3 minutes; drain and chill under cold water. Drain again; squeeze out moisture otherwise you'll end up with a soggy crust.  

In saucepan, heat 2 tbsp oil over high heat; cook spinach, onions and dill, stirring, for 2 minutes or until onions are softened. Transfer to bowl; let cool. Stir in feta, ricotta, eggs, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Set aside.

Place one sheet phyllo into greased 9x9 baking pan, keeping remainder covered with damp cloth to prevent drying out. Brush lightly with some of the olive oil; top with second sheet and brush lightly with oil. Repeat for a third sheet and fourth sheet.

Spoon filling into the pan, spreading evenly. 

Top with the fifth sheet of phyllo, brushing with olive oil then repeat for sixth, seventh and eighth sheets. 

Bake in 350°F (190°C) oven for 30-40 minutes or until golden.

I served it to my family with tzatziki and greek salad :)

Winnipeg City Hall Will Vote To Ban Circuses!!

Yes, Winnipeg! Although it hasn't yet been decided, Winnipeg City Hall will vote next Wednesday on banning exotic animal circuses in their area. Read the Global News article here, write your MP, tweet about about it, share it on Facebook ..and maybe, just maybe one day this will have a Canada-Wide (better yet World-Wide) effect!

Blackfish Documentary

This documentary looks amazing and I'm hoping to get out with my friends from HALT to see it in Toronto. Check the TIFF website here for showtimes.