spicy strawberry salsa & dinner for two.

The weekdays never go as planned, thank goodness, because they keep me on my toes and leave me with little unexpected moments to cherish. Tonight my evening of an early run (done by 6:30 at the latest, or else...) and getting most of my classwork done for the week ended up like this:

- Leave work late, home around 6:00.
- Start a video of "How God Really Feels About Bikinis" that lasts 8+ minutes.
- Head out for my run at 6:35 & immediately receive a call from the friend I was supposed to call by 6:00.
- Run a couple miles and then stop to walk, call said friend.
- Brother-in-law beeps in / switch lines / talk quickly / call friend back.
- Organize details for Labor Day Weekend in VA with said friend.
- Call back & talk to brother- & sister-in-law.
- Friend in San Francisco calls as I hang up with family, talk until Caleb arrives home.

... it's now 8:15.

Oh yeah, and what the heck are we having for dinner?

Folks, you can never go wrong with tacos. They have been my last minute saving grace on countless nights, and they never get old. In our household, we use chicken or fish, but you have complete flexibility in the meats & toppings that you choose. One of the best things about tacos is that you can utilize what you already have instead of purchasing what's needed for the meal.

Enter SALSA.

Before living in Southern California and before watching 500 episodes of "Chopped" on the Food Network, I had a very limited idea of salsa. I thought it was the stuff they bring out before a meal at your local Mexican restaurant or the stuff people brought in a jar for that Super Bowl party where no one felt like making a homemade dish. I was pleased to discover that salsa can take on many forms & flavors, involving an endless combination of veggies, spices, fruits, and herbs. And when you have a vegetable garden, this can be a great way to use what you have fresh before it goes bad.

Tonight I checked the fridge and noticed I had a few strawberries that were on the verge of spoiling, so I decided to use those for some sweetness. I added in a variety of tomatoes, jalapeños & parsley from the garden, along with freshly chopped garlic, sweet peppers, and onion that I had on hand. I included a touch of salt & cayenne pepper and a quick few drops of olive oil.

Paired with the fish that Caleb grilled and the tortillas we had, our healthy and delicious meal was ready to eat no more than 20 minutes after I got started. The weather was so nice that even though it was dark and despite the giant killer mosquitos that live under our enormous oak & pecan trees that span almost the entire backyard, I lit some citronella candles and pulled the table close to the light of the back deck so we could eat outside.

I even made this girly drink to go with my meal: Straw-Ber-Rita mixed with some prosecco & fresh strawberries.

I'm happy to say that the food and the drink and even the mosquitos seemed to fade in the background as I was finally able to pause and just be with my husband. We prayed over our food and for our loved ones, talked about our todays and our tomorrows and even our years to come. I'm behind on my schoolwork and we've got a full week ahead, but I'm thankful for that spicy strawberry salsa, the time it saved me in the kitchen, and the time it gave me with my man.

friendlier food.

I love when my favorite things collide. Food & community, be it family or friends, is one of my favorite combinations. Fun impromptu gatherings & dinners are commonplace for 20- & 30-somethings, and meal sharing, even with strangers, has become trendy {no really - check out this site that is doing just that in NYC/SF/DC & other cities: www.eatfeastly.com}.

Food has become a way to share our culture, our upbringing, our life experiences with one another. But how do we move past the cheap booze and store-bought cookies of our college years to contribute something that represents who we are?

I challenge you to get creative for your next gathering. Use that double date dinner night to introduce some fresh salad ideas to your friends, or bring an appetizer that doesn't fit the mold to your friends' to watch the game. Open up your home and try something unique, like making sushi together or a build-your-own pizza night. Brainstorm foods or wines that represent where you're from, where you've been, or where you'd like to go. Whether it's your grandmother's secret recipe or a dish you've been dying to try out, let people know you more through the food you prepare.

I truly believe that we can combat shallow relationships and mundane get-togethers with friendlier food. Let's start using food as a way to serve & love others and show them more of ourselves.

the day I decided that less is MORE.

Let’s be honest… I’ve always wanted to be this girl. The girl who is absolutely content and thriving with little. The girl who desires adventure and community above possessions. The girl who defines wealth & investment in different terms than the world tells her she should. The girl whose outfit doesn’t define her day. And today I’m asking myself: why can’t I be that girl NOW?

In some ways, I’ve mastered the skills of being a minimalist. I wear little make-up and drive a 6 year old Subaru with some dents from all the deer Caleb has hit with it. As a couple, we’ve put off buying a house for some quality adventures together. We’ve moved across country twice, taken our time on the drive to & fro, and been on some fun stateside & international trips. We’ve pursued the career of Caleb’s calling, despite the extensive time & money it has required us to invest, even when it meant moving to Los Angeles on a prayer, $4,000 in savings, and a $30,000 combined salary. And come on, I’m willing to camp in a tent at a site with no bathrooms. Aren’t I every outdoorsman/adventurer’s dream-come-true?

NO. I’m not.

And no one can attest to this more than my very own outdoorsman/adventurer. I, like most of my gender in the States, have bought the lie that MORE is MORE. I have believed that my value comes from how many compliments I receive on how cute my shoes are. I have placed going out for dinner & drinks at a trendy local restaurant above being thrifty & making a wholesome meal at home for my husband & I to share. I have defined beauty in an unhealthy way, and have made idols of hair products, the HGTV Dream Home, and brand name yoga pants, among millions of other things.

So TODAY is the day that I decide less is MORE, and I challenge you to do the same. I’m certain that will look different for me than it will for you. I’m even more certain that I will struggle with this decision every day and that I will trade things of precious and true worth for things that can never satisfy over and over again, and that each time it will leave me feeling empty. Yet even with the knowledge that it won’t be perfect, I’m feeling a special & unique freedom in deciding that less is MORE and making some real-life changes to see this through… today.