Bean Salad Recipe

Ingredients
1 (14.5 ounce) can black beans
1 (14.5 ounce) can dark red kidney beans
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans
1 (14.5 ounce) can pinto beans
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 (8 ounce) jar chunky salsa
1 pinch dried parsley

Directions
1.Pour beans into a colander, and rinse under running water.
2.In a large mixing bowl, toss beans and corn together with oil, cumin, chili powder, lime juice, and salsa. Sprinkle with parsley, cover, and chill.

Adventure at the Outer Banks continued...

By 4:00pm we were back to the ferry enjoying the sea breeze and the seagulls that made the ferry their home. We drove around Hatteras Island, visited the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest in the nation and famous symbol of North Carolina. If adventurous and healthy, one can climb up its 268 steps for a spectacular view of the national seashore.

By 6:00pm, I urged the girls to leave and start the trip back to our hotel in Nags Head. I wanted to take sunset photos at Pea island Bird Sanctuary along the way, although I did not tell them my plan fearful that they would prefer to go straight to the hotel for a swim in the pool. They were singing along with Jack Johnson, one of their favorite entertainers. A singer-songwriter, accomplished professional surfer and filmmaker, I have learned to adopt him and his songs during long road trips. After all, I am a “hip mom”. All of a sudden we heard a loud bang and a hissing sound from nowhere.

“Do you think a soda bottle just popped?”, my innocent inquiry.
“I wonder if it’s the tire”, Alexa’s smart reply.

Immediately, I stopped the car at the sandy embankment for inspection. And sure enough, in that lonely sandy road between Avon and Rodanthe, where the tall sand dunes are on our right and the marshy bird sanctuary on our left, we had a flat tire. With long dusty road ahead and clouds were getting darker by the minute, we became three damsels in distress and no man in sight to help us. I thought of dialing 711 to ask for a tow truck and then realized it is such a long, long way from the mainland. I wanted to teach my girls a lesson of being ready for any emergency. So I then blurted out, “Get out of the car and help me put the spare tire in.”

“Have you done it before?” was Kristina’s curt question.
“No, but I’ve seen Papa do it several times in the past. We can do it.”
“No way,” said Alexa.
“It would help if you both get out of the car and show your pretty faces to the drivers who will pass this way. Nobody might help an elderly lady, but these young men will certainly stop to help two pretty young girls like you.” I challenged them.
“No Mom, I refuse to be a damsel in distress. Show me what to do.” Kristina quipped.

By then, I had the jack out and had positioned it underneath the car while the girls tried to get the spare tire out. Breathing deeply and sending silent prayers to the Unseen Helper, I gave the girls instruction as to how to position the tire.

By Raylene Ann Rodrigo-Baumgart

Curried Quinoa Pilaf Salad Recipe

Curried vegetarian quinoa salad is a healthy and low-fat side dish that is delicious hot as a pilaf or cold as a quinoa salad. This recipe is both vegetarian and vegan. Make sure to rinse the quinoa before cooking to rid it of its bitter coating.

Ingredients:
•1 cup uncooked quinoa
•2 cups vegetable broth
•1 tsp curry powder
•1 tsp ginger
•dash salt
•1/3 cup raisins
•1/3 cup cashew pieces

Preparation:
Bring the vegetable broth, curry powder, ginger and salt to a boil and add the quinoa and spices.
Cover and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until quinoa is soft and fluffy. Stir in raisins and cashews.

Grilled Watermelon Salad Recipe

Recipe courtesy Claire Robinson
Serves 4.

Ingredients
•1/2 (5-pound) seedless watermelon
•1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
•Extra-virgin olive oil
•Kosher salt (specialty salt is great here, if on hand)
•2 cups fresh baby arugula, washed and dried
•1 cup goat cheese, crumbled, preferably a French Chevre
•Fresh finely cracked black pepper

Directions
Stand the watermelon half cut side down on a cutting board and slice away the rind, leaving a solid block of melon. Turn the block on its side and cut it into 8 squares, roughly 3 by 3 inches and 1-inch thick.

Pour the vinegar into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook until reduced to a thick syrup consistency. Set aside.

Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle just enough olive oil over watermelon slices to thinly coat and place on hot grill pan. Grill each side about 2 minutes until grill marks appear; transfer to a plate and season with salt.

To assemble the salads, put about 1/4 cup of baby arugula on a serving plate, followed by a grilled slice of watermelon in the center, and top with a tablespoon of crumbled cheese and another 1/4 cup arugula. Add another watermelon slice and another tablespoon of cheese. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Finish each salad with a very light drizzle of olive oil and balsamic syrup. Dust with black pepper and serve immediately.

Longest Day in a Mother's Life - A Diary (August 3, 2010)

This week we begin another exciting series from Raylene. She writes about the longest day in her life, which occured while she was on vacation a couple days ago. I hope you enjoy the story and I hope you will be inspired to send in your own stories that have occured this summer!
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It was a perfect Monday! This was our second vacation day. The girls and I decided to have a spur-of-the-moment mini vacation in the Outer Banks. The girls wanted to have a bonding weekend before Kristina heads off to UVA. We agreed that as long as they let me do my thing and I let them sleep as long as they wanted, then it would be a fun trip between an aging mother and two teenagers.

Yesterday, we spent our first day beach walking and exploring Nags Head. When it drizzled, we went and then played at the Mutiny Bay Mini golf course. In the late afternoon we headed straight to the famous Jockey’s Ridge State park. There we enjoyed watching the hang gliders. The girls had a great time climbing to the dunes, leaving me behind to take sunset pictures.

The following morning, while the girls were still asleep, I woke up to watch the most beautiful sunrise. A perfect start of a beautiful day . . . or so I though. I did not know then that this was going to be a long, long day. I then drove to Pea Island National Wildlife refuge.

The girls were awake by the time I got back to Nags Head. I convinced them to head straight to Hatteras Island. It is a sandy, barrier bar between the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound, called the Graveyard of the Atlantic because the cape experiences frequent storms that drive ships landward toward its dangerous shallow depths.

Then we saw the sign for a ferry ride to Ocracoke Island, a tiny strip of a barrier island with 16 miles of unspoiled beaches accessible only by a ferry that runs every 30 minutes till midnight. Having no planned activity, we followed the cue of cars waiting to be transported across. Forty five minutes later, we were ashore and enjoyed this island where the infamous pirate BlackBeard was killed in 1718. Within two hours, we finished exploring this charming little island with dainty little gift shops, marina and bed-and-breakfast hostels. Hungry from the walk, we had a simple lunch at Dajio’s Restaurant. We stopped several times at the many beach areas just to enjoy the serenity of the place. Here, nature is at its best: untamed and unspoiled.

Come back next week for the adventure that ensues!

By Raylene Ann Rodrigo-Baumgart

A Healthful Diet - Poem

There is so much talk
About a healthful diet,
But some people
Will not even try it!

They say they prefer the old way,
To "eat drink and be merry".
How else can we be happy?

O friends,
Stay away from junk food!
This may sound rude or even crude.
But it is a warning,
To keep you from falling
Into sure disgrace.

Then you will want to hide your face
Due to over weight
From the excessive intake
Of candies, cookies, ice cream and cake.

Wake up and shake up
To a new life!
Have a sound mind,
Be spiritually and physically fit,
And well put together.

The Bible has a answer,
Nothing can be better.
Nuts, fruits, grains, and vegetables,
These are what should fill out tummies.

But remember,
Even in the best diet,
let temperance
Be your target!

by Silma Murray

For Women Only - Book Summary

Here is a short summary for those of you that were not able to read the book in time for our breakfast on Sunday. I hope those of you that have read the book are finding it helpful. It has really helped me thing about my relationships in healthier ways.

There are seven things the book addresses in regards to men and their behaviors and forms of processing information.

1. Men need respect: Men would rather feel unloved than inadequate and disrespected.
2. Men are insecure: Despite their "in control" exterior, men often feel like imposters and are insecure that their inadequacies will be discovered.
3. Men are providers: Even if you personally made enough income to support the family's lifestyle, it would make no difference to the mental burden he feels to provide.
4. Men want sex: Your sexual desire for your husband profoundly affects his sense of well-being and confidence in all areas of life.
5. Men are visual: Even happily married men struggle with being pulled toward live and recollected images of other women.
6. Men are romantic: Actually, most men enjoy romance (sometimes in different ways)and want to be romantic - but hesitate because they doubt they can succeed.
7. Men care about looks: You don't have to be a size 3, but your man does need to see you making an effort to take care of yourself - and be will take on significant cost or inconvenience in order to support you.

Remember, these are general ideas and all of them might not apply to your husband, but they are good to know when dealing with any man in your life.

See you Sunday!!