Yet another giveaway

Check out Walk in the Woods and Win a Whimsey! http://whatrosemadetoday.blogspot.com/2009/02/win-whimsy-when.html
This site is not about food, but Rose's Craft is a gift

Did you know?

It can take up tp 20 minutes for your body to realize it has been satisfied. This is why we often get up from a meal and feel over full-- we've eaten more than we needed. Slow down, chew with intention, smell, taste, feel how the flavors effect your mouth. Think about you meal as you are eating it. You will find you enjoy your meals more and end up eating less. Its a win /win situation!

Check out granny annie's give away!

Annie's got some great insights on mindful eating found in her Eating The Angel Way segments of her blog called writers and witches and words oh my! AND she's got a great giveaway for posting on her blog. Check it out! http://anniekelleher.blogspot.com/

Thought for food

Unplug. Put away that food processor. Use a knife. Slow down, pay attention to your task. Not only does this increase your connection with your meal, but its better for the environment and your wallet. Start whole. Buy in Bulk. Reduce your packaging.
Rather than buying shredded cheese and sliced cheese, buy a block. Slice it or shred it as needed, connect with your food, let your inner energy interact with it, rather than some nameless factory worker. Less processing, less packaging, less transportation.... everybody wins.

A Valentines Love Spell

You will need

1 red candle

1 lg cucumber, peeled and cut into 6 equal sized (1-2inch) rounds
1 vidalia or other sweet onion, small dice
4 lg beefsteak tomatoes: 1 diced , 3 chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
5 tbs extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
6 tbs cider vinegar
8 oz smoked mozzarella, shredded
1/4 cup fresh basil, chiffonade (cut into thin strips)
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves roughly chopped
1 tsp oregano, i prefer fresh here, but dried works just fine
1/2 cup red wine (your choice, but never use a wine that you would not drink)
1/2 lb your favorite pasta (cooked)
1 loaf crusty bread of your choice
salt and pepper


1) Light the red candle before you begin to gather your ingredi... erm.. Spell Components.
2) State Your Intention : This is the important part: Focus your thoughts on the candle, imagine that the candlelight is filling you and the room with passionate love. Imagine that as you are gathering the components of your spell you are exposing them to this passionate love. Imagine your evening being filled with this passionate love. Where will you serve this meal?imagine your companion and the reaction to your serving a beautiful meal. Cast this passionate candlelight onto the image of your companion and imagine the evenings events.
Once you feel you have a good image in mind say these or similar words:

as i light this candles fire

to show my love my true desire

fill these foods with passions delight

and grace our hearts with love tonight

3) gather all the components

4) using 2 tbs EVOO, sweat all but 2 tbs of the onion in a large skillet over low heat(cooking slowly, until they start to turn clear)

meanwhile....

5) take the remaining onion and toss in a bowl with 4 tbs of the cider vinegar, 1 tbs EVOO, the diced tomato, basil chiffonade, 1 clove of garlic, minced, and S&P to taste. Refrigerate.

6) raise the heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tbs EVOO and the 2 cloves worth of chopped garlic, when this starts to sizzle a bit and turn golden, (2-4 minutes)

7) add the chopped tomato and a little salt and pepper (pinch or so) cook, stirring frequently, until tomatoes start to fall apart

8) add chopped basil leaves and oregano. When basil starts to wilt,

9) add remaining 2 tbs cider vinegar and the red wine and simmer 8-12 minutes, stirring often

meanwhile....

10) remove and discard the seeds from the 6 cucumber pieces arrange on two plates

11) add 2oz shredded mozzarella to the refrigerated tomato basil mix and fill the cucumber pieces with the resulting salad

12) just before serving the pasta , toss the remaining shredded mozzarella into the sauce and give it a quick stir

so what have you created? Caprice Salad stuffed cucumbers, pasta telephonica and an evening full of passion and romance

During dinner, don't cut the loaf of bread, but tear off manageable pieces and feed them to your partner at least one time, but try to feed your partner three times durring the meal. Sharing food increases your connection to each other and to the food..erm... spell

Use the red candle during dinner and imagine the candle's light filling you both with love and passion throughout the meal

Did you know?

Sure, everyone knows you give chocolate to a loved one, that oysters will rev-up your love life; but how about basil or cucumber? Did you know anise is an aphrodisiac?