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Archives for September 2014

Did you say a proper goodbye?

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Earlier this month I sent out my first letter to my followers. As I prepare to send out the next one I want to share the last one with everyone to give you a glimpse at the content you can expect from me every month.

If you enjoy this letter please sign up using the form on the right to make sure you get this content straight to your inbox. This is the only month I will be sharing the letter on the blog so getting on that list is important if you want the best of my writing.

 

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Did you say a proper goodbye?

All the excitement of a new change comes up quickly. The emotions that come with a new adventures can be hopeful, invigorating and happy. Emotions that are much more fun to embrace than those goodbye emotions of sadness, possible regret, and doubt of what’s to come.

Before you go hoping into the future like a 4-year-old hopped up on sugar take a minute and say your proper goodbye to what go you there. Without those people, those experiences you wouldn’t have that shiny bright adventure ahead.

Last week, I wrote a goodbye letter to an entire city and posted it on Instagram. Tears coming down my cheeks as I typed it and thought of all the great things that happened to me during my sixteen years in the bay area. Since it is San Francisco I am leaving, part of my heart will always be there, but saying a proper goodbye is allowing me to be present in the amazing adventure my husband and I are on. When I got married I said goodbye to my single life and entered into marriage with my full heart and attention.

Below are some of the ways I say goodbye to times in my life that have taught me huge life lessons or mark major milestones, and transitions.

How to say a proper goodbye to part of your life

*Write a letter or a journal entry thanking that part of your life for all it gave you. Even if it was an extremely hard part of your life. Actually, this is more important if it was a hard part of your life because it offers a chance to take the positive lessons with you immediately.

*Write a post on social media platform and sharing your goodbye publicly can be a powerful way of moving on to what the universe holds for you next.

*Sit and mediate about what you have accomplished and what you hope to accomplish.

If you find you have a longing for a time gone by that is pulling your thoughts from the present try sitting down and saying a proper goodbye and thank you.

See my goodbye and follow along as I start my new adventure on instagram @witwisdomfood.

Yours in laughter & tears,

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Again, if you enjoyed this letter please sign up using the form on the right to make sure you get this content straight to your inbox. This is the only month I will be sharing the letter on the blog so getting on that list is important if you want the best of my writing.

how to store & eat: papaya

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how to store & eat:papaya | wit wisdom & food

Papaya I don’t eat massive amounts of papaya, actually I usually only eat it when I am in a tropical place, but this one goes out to Melissa, from small company artworks. Melissa has become a big fan of the how to store & eat series and requested info on papaya. Here is what I learned from buying some and some internet research. My favorite fact is you can eat the seeds. I tried it because that is the crazy things I will do for you, my readers. They are indeed peppery and they would make a great addition to a salad.

Season: tropical, all year

What to look for when you buy: A ripe papaya will be turning from its solid green color to yellow. It should be tender when you push with your finger, but not mushy. Papaya will ripen on the counter so you can purchase one and wait a few days to eat it.

How to store it: Store them on the counter at room temperature next to your other tropical fruits.

How to prepare it: couple of options here. If you want slices you can peel the entire fruit with a knife, cut the fruit in half, scoop out seeds and cut in slices. I cut mine in half and then quarters and run my knife between the skin and fruit. This requires a little trimming to get all the peel & you lose more fruit than the first option. It is, however, faster. Third option is to cut in half and use a melon baller to make cute rounds of papaya. I am going for this next time!

How to use it: Throw it in a fruit salad is the only way I have used papaya, so far.

Links to some great papaya recipes:

Maple Roasted Papaya - Seriously, you can roast anything. I am getting a double oven in my new house so I can roast to my heart’s content!
Papaya Salsa - A nice addition to a salsa bar at your next party.
Papaya seed dressing - I am looking forward to trying this on a steak salad over arugula when I need a little summer pick me up this winter.
Chile lime papaya mango snack - A popular way to eat fresh fruit in tropical climates is with a sprinkle of chile powder, a squeeze of lime and a dash of salt. Don’t knock it ’til you try it. It brings out amazing flavor.

how to store and eat: tomatoes

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how to store & eat tomatoes | wit wisdom & food

Tomatoes Tomatoes have changed a lot since I was a kid, at least the options in the grocery store have. Ours only came in red. Now there is a plethora of beautiful shades and colors. They make for a quick gorgeous salad. Growing up on of the treats I looked forward to the most was a plate of fresh tomatoes from the garden, sliced thin and lightly salted. Nothing says summer like that. My first days in Indiana and I have already enjoyed some of the fresh tomatoes from my parents garden.

Season: summer, June-September

What to look for when you buy: Picking a good tomato look for tomatoes that say vine ripened. Tomatoes that are ripened using ethylene, a gas produced by fruits, makes for tomatoes with less flavor and an undesirable mealy texture. Looks for tomatoes with a bright color, a firm feel and no bruises.

How to store it: Store them on the counter at room temperature stem side down for a longer shelf life. Tomatoes can be stored in the fridge, but it will make a mealy texture. If you only need part of the tomato slice it and store in a plastic container in the fridge.

How to prepare it: The biggest key to using tomatoes is a sharp knife. Remember the ginsu knife commercials? Maybe I am dating myself with that reference. Back to tomatoes. Without a sharp knife you will smash the tomato as you are pressing to cut it. With a properly sharp knife it will slice through like butter. A great way to test if your knives need to be sharpened.

How to cook it: As I mentioned my favorite way to eat tomatoes is sliced with a little salt. A touch of balsamic is great as well. Perfect for hot days when you don’t want to turn on the oven.

Links to some great tomato recipes:

Oven Roasted Tomatoes - Proving my theory all you need is a 400 degree oven and a cookie sheet
Caprese Salad - The key to a great caprese salad is quality ingredients & maybe this balsamic reduction!
Herbed tomato & roasted garlic tart - A more complex recipe but still simple ingredients that showcase great tomatoes
Heirloom Tomato Salad - Nothing more beautiful yet simple than an heirloom tomato salad

how to store & eat: leeks

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how to store & eat leeks | wit wisdom & food

Leeks

Years ago I had a weekly CSA box that brought delicious veggies delivered fresh from the farm. I made the mistake of signing up in the fall when all the tasty summer fruits and veggies were done for the season. Leaving me with lots of greens and root veggies. Leeks were one of the most daunting of the veggies. I don’t think I had given leeks a second, or even a first, thought before they showed up on my door. With a mild sweet flavor it is a great option over an onion. They also make a great side dish on the grill or in the oven.

Season: Fall/Winter/Spring

What to look for when you buy: firm with bright green tops. Smaller leeks have a sweeter flavor. Stay away from leeks over 1 1/2 inches in diameter as they tend to be tough.

How to store it:
The crisper drawer is the leeks best friend. Straight from the farmer, wrapped in damp paper towels, in a loose plastic bag leeks can last weeks. Buying from a grocery store shortens the shelf life because leeks aren’t a popular vegetable.

How to prepare it:

Trim off the dark green leaves leaving the pale green and white part in tact.

Washing leeks is the most time-consuming part of leeks. Because they have layers, when they grow dirt can collect in the layers. There are two ways to cut and wash leeks. Lengthwise is the easiest. Leaving the roots intact half the leek. Run the leek under water separating the layers to rinse the grit out.

Slicing the leeks is the other option. Slice the leeks in little rounds.

how to store & eat leeks | wit wisdom & food

Put the rounds into a bowl of cold water. Allow them to sit in the water and then toss lightly. Lift the leeks out gently and the grit will stay in the water. Dump the water and grit. Repeat until water is clear.

How to cook it:
Leeks are great roasted in the oven or grilled. They also make up one half of the classic potato & leek soup.

To roast in the oven simply cut them in rounds toss with olive oil and salt & pepper. Cook for 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven.

Links to some great leek recipes:

buttered leeks - a good side dish option with some red meat or meatloaf
sweet potato leek soup - this is paleo. So while it looks creamy it doesn’t have any milk added.
roasted leeks with dijon vinaigrette - this calls for tarragon and sounds delicious
grilled leeks with romesco sauce - this sounds like a great sauce to go over the top of a lot of grilled veggies

The adventure begins

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We have packed up everything, loaded the car, and there is officially no looking back. It is Indiana or bust.

I think it is still settling in that I am not going to be going back to the Bay Area after our week in Los Angeles. I don’t know if it will really set in for a few more days. There are sure to be a few more transition tears. You know the ones, when you are happy or sad, just marking the passing of something that was wonderful and the hopefulness for the future.

We have an exciting week of family and vacation planned before we get to Indiana and settle into a new routine. The most exciting thing waiting for us is the opportunity to buy our own house. We can’t wait to start looking.

I will still have a few posts up during the next two weeks while we travel.

I am chronicling my adventures on Instagram if you would like to follow along look for #witwisdomadventure Come join the adventure.

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