It's a pressure cooker thing! But it's yummy and oh-so-fast-and-easy!!
THAI SWEET POTATO STEW
2T oil
1 lg onion
3 red/green/yellow bell peppers
2 cloves garlic
slice the veggies and saute in oil in pressure cooker (open!)
2 large sweet potatoes (peeled and 1" chunks)
14oz coconut milk (not cream of coconut)
1/2 C water
1T Thai green curry paste (or just 1T hot sauce)
salt/pepper
add this to veggies in pressure cooker, cover and bring to pressure, let cook for 3 minutes then quickly release pressure
1/2C green beans/sugar snap peas
2T fresh cilantro, chopped
add to mix above and cook 3 minutes with pressure cooker open
serve with optional rice and some bread product to sop up the yummy soup!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
what is beauty?
I have, admittedly, a skewed view of the world. I'll admit that my views are not exactly mainstream, especially for the Midwest upbringing that i had.
I look at my husband (of 19 years, on the 19th of this month) and he is as good looking to me as the day that i first saw him, standing in the corner of the Newborn nursery with the other newbies to the unit. Does he look the same as he did then? No. His hair is straighter (and a bit longer), he no longer has the earring and has more grey in his hair. Would my 22yo self have considered this "2010 model Joe" attractive? I can't say. My reference point for beauty has changed. Grey streaks in a ponytail? Sexy. Much like he considers (or at least tells me that he does) crinkles around my eyes attractive. "Just the remnant of where smiles were", he tells me.
Some things haven't changed in my view but have in the society as a whole. The whole "grungy" look--unkempt, greasy hair that is forever falling in the eyes, pants that are too long (they get walked on and tattered), pants that hang on the hips-- is a look that is totally lost on me. The kids love it (and wear it!) but i don't get it.
Then there is the whole weight thing. I suppose that one could see it as a positive. There isn't the focus on girls ( and guys, to a much, much lower extent) being model-thin anymore. In fact, the pendulum has swung way the other way. Kids, teens and young adults are now almost universally overweight, many crossing overweight to outright obesity. This had been true of adults in the past but not to the extent that just about all age groups have now embraced the "more the better". The plethora of diet plans, diet/reduced everything foods and exercise options (24hr gym memberships, personal trainers, home gyms, Wii/computer assisted workouts and many, many fitness classes) have seemingly little effect. People want a "magic pill" and won't do the "move more, eat less" that might require a bit of effort.
The societal pressure to be "thin and attractive" is gone. People are now content to be "fluffy" and there are no repercussions. Clothing is now offered in ever increasing sizes in the mainstream stores (no more need to go to the embarrassment of finding a Lane Bryant or Men's Big and Tall). No more teasing in schools as chubby has become the accepted norm. In fact, the only "teasing" that i've heard at work and school was that someone was too thin and should "eat more so you look healthier" (woman in question just finished chemotherapy for breast cancer). So, it's not that people are getting more humane and considerate, just changing their foci.
I suppose that i'm just getting old and judgemental. I make sure that i don't comment on the appearance of my kids' friends, good or bad. I don't have the same taste in clothes as my teens, either of them. I let them pick out what they will wear and try ot accomodate their tastes. To varying degrees of success. I saw earlier today clothes in Christian's closet with tags still attached....from Christmas. Clearly a clothing misfire on my part! He sticks with a camouflage/black theme with occasional forays in to printed t-shirts. Alessandra is more complex and i've given up on trying to pick anything for her. She always looks beautiful in anything that she wears so i just let her do what she thinks is right. Shopping with her is a long affair but she never buys anything that she doesn't wear to death.
I, on the other hand, haven't really changed my "look" in years and years. A few more jeans and fewer skirts (especially black skirts with white tops and a bright red MK jacket...) since moving here but not radically different. More groovy tie-dye, less black nighttime wear (nowhere to get dressed up for in NM).
So, what is beauty? My happy family. The mountains out my back door. The view of the valley from my bedroom. A negative mammogram result from my doctor. It's all good.
I look at my husband (of 19 years, on the 19th of this month) and he is as good looking to me as the day that i first saw him, standing in the corner of the Newborn nursery with the other newbies to the unit. Does he look the same as he did then? No. His hair is straighter (and a bit longer), he no longer has the earring and has more grey in his hair. Would my 22yo self have considered this "2010 model Joe" attractive? I can't say. My reference point for beauty has changed. Grey streaks in a ponytail? Sexy. Much like he considers (or at least tells me that he does) crinkles around my eyes attractive. "Just the remnant of where smiles were", he tells me.
Some things haven't changed in my view but have in the society as a whole. The whole "grungy" look--unkempt, greasy hair that is forever falling in the eyes, pants that are too long (they get walked on and tattered), pants that hang on the hips-- is a look that is totally lost on me. The kids love it (and wear it!) but i don't get it.
Then there is the whole weight thing. I suppose that one could see it as a positive. There isn't the focus on girls ( and guys, to a much, much lower extent) being model-thin anymore. In fact, the pendulum has swung way the other way. Kids, teens and young adults are now almost universally overweight, many crossing overweight to outright obesity. This had been true of adults in the past but not to the extent that just about all age groups have now embraced the "more the better". The plethora of diet plans, diet/reduced everything foods and exercise options (24hr gym memberships, personal trainers, home gyms, Wii/computer assisted workouts and many, many fitness classes) have seemingly little effect. People want a "magic pill" and won't do the "move more, eat less" that might require a bit of effort.
The societal pressure to be "thin and attractive" is gone. People are now content to be "fluffy" and there are no repercussions. Clothing is now offered in ever increasing sizes in the mainstream stores (no more need to go to the embarrassment of finding a Lane Bryant or Men's Big and Tall). No more teasing in schools as chubby has become the accepted norm. In fact, the only "teasing" that i've heard at work and school was that someone was too thin and should "eat more so you look healthier" (woman in question just finished chemotherapy for breast cancer). So, it's not that people are getting more humane and considerate, just changing their foci.
I suppose that i'm just getting old and judgemental. I make sure that i don't comment on the appearance of my kids' friends, good or bad. I don't have the same taste in clothes as my teens, either of them. I let them pick out what they will wear and try ot accomodate their tastes. To varying degrees of success. I saw earlier today clothes in Christian's closet with tags still attached....from Christmas. Clearly a clothing misfire on my part! He sticks with a camouflage/black theme with occasional forays in to printed t-shirts. Alessandra is more complex and i've given up on trying to pick anything for her. She always looks beautiful in anything that she wears so i just let her do what she thinks is right. Shopping with her is a long affair but she never buys anything that she doesn't wear to death.
I, on the other hand, haven't really changed my "look" in years and years. A few more jeans and fewer skirts (especially black skirts with white tops and a bright red MK jacket...) since moving here but not radically different. More groovy tie-dye, less black nighttime wear (nowhere to get dressed up for in NM).
So, what is beauty? My happy family. The mountains out my back door. The view of the valley from my bedroom. A negative mammogram result from my doctor. It's all good.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)