Sweet-Potato Chips

I came across a recipe for Sweet Potato chips, and thought they sounded like a good snack alternative. I've been trying to get more creative with snack ideas without going overboard on either raw veggies & fruit or the opposite side of the continuum - totally unhealthy stuff. Well, I made them, and they turned out quite tasty! :) They're more what I would call 'home-style' fries than chips. I think if I would have cut them thinner, they'd be crispier like chips. Still really good though!

Ingredients:

2 sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Italian seasonings (or any other seasonings you think would go well!)
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

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Method:

Preheat oven to 400-425 degrees, depending on your oven.

Peel and cut the potatoes into 1/4 inch half moons.
Add seasonings, olive oil and potatoes to a bowl,
and stir them until the potatoes are evenly coated.

Spread evenly onto 2 baking sheets with none of the pieces overlapping.

Bake for 10 minutes.
Then flip the chips over.
Bake for another 10 minutes.

They should be ready now!

Happy Fall!

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I'd really like to try a dessert version of these chips by instead adding cinnamon & sugar. I'll have to think of ways to jazz up that idea. I bet then adding cool whip would be yummy. Hmm :)

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Laughter & Being Awed, the best medicine

I love inspirational little stories about various and unique ways people make the world a better place. Via my subscription to KarmaTube, I got an email today which had a link to that cute Piano Stairs video that's been going around for a week or so. After exploring the KarmaTube website a little more, I came across this video, "Smiles in Pakistan". Thought I'd share!



KarmaTube also has a youtube channel where you can view more videos.

Here's another one that's cute. At first I was skeptical what all the nonsense was about...But I did end up laughing. :) I like what Dr Kataria has to say towards the end of the clip, "Still people are talking about their countries, my India, my United States, my Europe...What we need is to bring the whole world like a family...People who are happy, people who are laughing, we can never fight. Haaha" I have to admire that insight...it's true! If you can laugh with someone, there is peace!



...I don't know, maybe it beats "Bodhisattva in Metro" that went around a few months back:


Anyway, enjoy. Actually, NO. Don't laugh. Whatever you do. Do not laugh. ;)

I'm his Jani

UPDATE (continuing from my previous post because it's so important ;):

I texted K:
Did you watch that movie Grease when you were a kid in Pakistan? I'm thinking you got that "electrifying" line from that movie. lol

K: I have never...I tend to eat instead of watch greasy stuff lol ;) plus do u really think they will show Grease in Pakistan?

Me: LMAO like french fries from sns!

Ok I didn't think they'd show Grease in Pak back in the 80s. It's a musical tho! ;)
And ur a natural.

K: There you go...you know how I am...rockin and rollin and what not ;)

Me: Hahaha! ok you HAVE seen it! That's another line from the movie!

K: Di..my darling...you hurt me real bad...Love has flown...all alone I sit in this data center...I wonder why-y-y, oh why...Oh Di..Di! Why-y-y? Oh Di..

Me: Hahahaha (Imagining K with his adorable accent singing this cracks me up)

K: Ok...I googled last two text lines...you got me interested in that movie now...lol

Me: It's the ultimate cheesified American musical there ever was. Sandy and Danny were the icon of lovers. The Pink Lady and the T-bird. Danny's song to Sandy...(I proceed w/ the "I got chills..." lyrics.)

A minute passes.

Me: Am I your Sandy Jani?

K: yes... ;)

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There's a little backstory on the jani comment...K and I like to refer to it time and time again. A little boy who I'm a therapist for... A sweet, darling, little 7 year old Indian boy who has autism one day out of the blue looked at me with so much love & trust in his eyes in the middle of our therapy session and asked me inquisitively, "Are you my Jani?" My heart melted. Picture Ishaan from Taare Zameen Par. Yes! Yes, I'm your Jani, and I'll always be! The thing is, at that time I had never heard that word "Jani" before, but in that moment there was no mistaking exactly what it meant!

Roses & Chocolate...WHINE & CHEESE

K and I's relationship isn't always roses, and especially lately with all of the traveling for work he's doing. Right now he's in New York City. Tentatively in two weeks he'll just be leaving Chicago and on his way to Wisconsin. Then after that, Atlanta. Ultimately, I'm not going to see him for another few weeks when I'll meet up with him in Atlanta. (My home town!-There's a perk to this madness.)

Tonight he called me as I was on my way out the door to...buy a brownie. Yes, a brownie. I was suddenly craving deep, dark, sweet chocolate...a rich, moist, chewy, fudge-iced, delicious, melt-in-my-mouth, gigantic chocolate brownie.. from Schlotzsky's. Yeah, I know. It must have been my last post about phenols that did it. ;) I don't think I've had chocolate in months. But I suddenly had to have that brownie.

Anyway, I think K is starting to feel bad that he's been traveling so often. He offered to go ahead and buy all of the jewelry supplies that I need to make some of my designs that I've wanted to get started on... as a gift to me...from him. K is not a man who spoils me or buys me gifts often. So, it really stands out when he makes a sweet gesture. After we hung up the phone, I was eating my brownie and I texted him...

Me: What you said was very sweetified. Thank u hon
K: I am glad you got electrified :)
Me: Aww how sweet(?) lol
K: Ok...Now get chocolatfied...
Me: I did and now I have a tummy ache *shrug*
K: I am getting napified now/get restified urself
Me: Zzzzzsss (I guess I was just getting caught up on the electrified bit?)

Oh dear. I'm thinking German chocolate cake might be in the works for this weekend. This long distance thing sucks!

Now I'm giggling because I'm picturing K, like John Travolta in the movie Grease, dancing and singing,"I got chills; They're multiplying! And I'm losing control. Cause the power you're supplying, It's electrifying!" I wonder if K saw Grease when he was a kid in Pakistan. My guess is NO, but I'll have to find out.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Ingredients:

1/2 mango
1 banana
1 lime
1 navel orange
1/2 cup red grapes
a few ice cubes

And here's what ya get:

Since I've been enjoying oranges and limes in my smoothies lately, I wanted to mention in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month that limes are an absolutely excellent source of vitamin C and contain flavonoid compounds that have both antioxidant and antibiotic effects on the body. Limes have healing properties in that their special flavonoids (flavonol glycosides) have been shown to stop cell division and proliferation in cancer cells. Another nutrient compound present in limes are liminoids. Specifically, limonin may be a much more beneficial anti-carcinogen than the phenols in chocolate or green tea are because it stays in the body for much longer - in some cases up to 24 hours versus 4-6 hours. So you can imagine a g l o w of active protection that lingers in the body. Read more about the health benefits of limes and lemons at Whfoods: Lemons/Limes. I take every opportunity I can to include limes and lemons in my diet such as by squeezing the juice over the Indian/Pakistani meals (especially biryani!) that I eat regularly, squeezing the juice into water, and as you know - adding the juice to my smoothies!~

Make choices that promote good health and well-being...physically, emotionally & spiritually...
Not only for yourself, but for those around you.