Happy March! February was a short and speedy month- the days flew by. I've been making random meals, nothing blog-worthy, and his space has been quiet as a result. But before we head into March, here's a random round up of life in Feb 2023.
On Sunday, I made these hummus bowls that turned out hearty and tasty. The motivation was to get through a Costco-size tub of hummus that my daughter made me buy. Here were the components:
- Brown rice
- Chickpeas cooked with cherry tomatoes (they were squishy and needing using up) and spices
- Quorn grounds (mock meat) sauteed with green peppers and jalapenos
- Hummus (lots of it)
- Jarred Olive salad
- Carrots, cucumbers, onions, cilantro
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHaKYipNgBjEs8-v87ZSNLo_Zb6S9peSYdj1E1nCGhseNqPl_1cX446Jq9MScJp6mieaAf8w-BZ6fSga797SiyX1SlvJbE8sx54zQgvniS7UWc8Loy-tcr2ET0EJ1uG9FHsWDTOMbRz8W6vl79zK0T4Y762gjh14SUIVACCPHjrHXDZdVVek/s320/hummus_bowl1.jpg) |
Toppings for the hummus bowl |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiEw2Jd9gdCYLZjSv-re8UCYE_Cobv0_aqfdUemoGtd75wxyRa6_KR7IK1CTJdXcq1D9DuvfD8_u9nOV9e4n_ENvf3ksozdAuqJ2f1MaUiLgWPm0TjJGOVMqhIGS_IXeNChBP9P0jojY-3LgGLHOiaqcdKK9vLBZEnjdbzBkh14Mfy4ReiQY/s320/hummus_bowl2.jpg) |
Hummus bowl |
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I am trying to make all my favorite cold-weather dishes while it is still cold weather out there. Developing this easy and fuss-free recipe for undhiyu- the Gujarati winter-special mixed vegetable dish- was a highlight of last winter for me. This month I made two big batches of undhiyu and happily ate my way through them with a few rotis as accompaniment.
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We has a few friends over for a Valentine-themed potluck dinner. I made these "heart beet" patties- vegetable patties (the usual type, with potatoes, peas, green beans) with some beets cooked along with the potatoes to dye everything a bright pink. I just shaped them with my hands. My friend made heart-shaped Brazilian guava pastries. Other friends brought a beet and grapefruit salad- delicious!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeIYjivl_aaIEl1Smz8_nPFkXVYyKZ3mnDqUDMUm2zIrnj0KCRjbKPS38V1gzkrcPOBfP7gSTfgwgjUjhYKrzpO_g2Edt2nueJLKco_ioVdNwd0gRWwr46NxBqpyXOnIQNUj9RW4-9zJsQ83Dn5gksX4DLI8IEkBeOED_etgZxSfHgkdiQcQ/s320/beet_patties.jpg) |
"Heart Beet" Valentine's Day patties |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzq8ZBGo8lgE8OzDNbB2w3hQbtLzj6QGlXAGKA2Ifh6_wBhs7SxCQsWJ_e0OGGGeEBfIO76HRlm1gM1cZqSpEiip3JiCMq2SsnnECOQIr1XcO1l6x6hxsSbRlYelIOLr3TAgo1TvgGBeNk-yYTuhLvXhzl9kcFpaZwXOUifsA0Ld3UxctOkjU/s320/pastries.jpg) |
Guava pastries |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKiaulwfPM8e1wkdIkkL-cYGzcH4RMypVJ3y1D67vzUvtYQ0N0sjFT2n24Z3Sdg-RutxrbcswE0xUHWyzFNIwHzNEvrq8IoVnhuwDd6g43hoTeo7CP9wd2NPjH_50DG4_MbYzq9vcf8X3EH0zgfB35USNguDrRaB_TndC6FYEiOe2_dZ8A-8/s320/thumbprint.jpg) |
Heart thumbprint cookies made by my sister (two angled indentations of the thumb) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW58TWB1H7ORp9X_zaHSiFr4It5KGXgHXf0j4CIs3u4l7QUd5_fw3G3i5UTXIQEEGDRnmwFOtdw8xfw1Mxlx17nGFTNnxJ-7J5SCEvBfSDjXrcLYRJQTzU1nRZWUfPkVuLs3SymqlbQYcj4JeMPId8oQk5-fNcvvt85jQ5nZKhXtASu03jis/s320/pokemon_valentines.jpg) |
Valentines made by my son for his classmates (idea found online) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCTD2JFUKZHk0EomRYefo6Vh_LmyX9_Wf8c4F-R0QrCsOYKO6g9Lurolu5KtAEA79aBCePXYLXfjWXOdHJdpdeNatrqqbs6Z5nlcYYv1jBYmcQVSWK24-rYUF3E_oA2QkGB4FqndQ6l_Uw-t8NB5jQuJhP0uckYo4JXLIn6PioIkEcYfChZI/s320/dog_pop_valentines.jpg) |
Valentines made by my daughter for her classmates (idea found online) |
* * * Random photos incoming * * *
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsDM_h8BlXJ6_vcpqP6OYs981ufnxVbt-Moeh2voN570KO3AgvR8Mx05VqFDVySEJzKj8HDQRcM0Mj6TqHEfUe5t7QX--M1g0IYN-tXc_h3MccuJl6AYTn87rEtLTSAdL_GtOB34gg0_UoRiLogcWUzZdTeDi28Bj0a-PFWkwLD04id8OuW8/s320/persian.jpg) |
A meal at a Persian restaurant |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtFupnWQMtjPOAsHzxmLAKkai5a6NJ9qDqbnn0EHVSG9vBMO8tU0QwQkwjp0GdDuuJEekCXA-cKzBlGfgaoAgUlaqomknY-O3uj4l69xxCVFsFt4KSo3J05mgiKfTlemv-dLwzmOGRCGxCqLD8vc2NVZC8vjq_Qs22PUxFKazPzULFqf9JQU/s320/cherry.jpg) |
Signs of spring in the neighborhood- cherry blossoms |
Also in Feb--
- I reconnected with a bunch of college friends- there is a reunion in the making. It is great to start chatting again like no time has passed at all. (In reality a LOT of time has passed since I was in college)
- I watched a production of The Vagina Monologues- I have seen it a few times before but this production was special because a close friend of mine was in it. Like others in this production, she isn't a professional actress. She is a graphic designer and a mom. She was SO GOOD!! It blows me away how much talent is among us. If you ever get a chance, don't miss this show. Every time I have seen it, I have laughed and cried and come away empowered.
- I ran my first 5K in a few years. The course was frustratingly hilly (as is every course in our wonderful town) and I was just thankful to finish without puking or passing out. I posted a decent time- better than I expected- considering that I really started running regularly last month. I'm motivated to keep at it. Say what you will about running but it is a very efficient workout. Even better, I now have a running buddy who I run with most weekends. She elevates the whole thing for me.
Your turn: Tell me your highlights of February.