Wineday Wednesday + a Tabouli Recipe

Ok, unfortunately, I have no wine reviews for you today, just a recipe.

I simply wanted to take this time to recap my alcohol/sweets hiatus during Lent and tell you about where I'm taking it from here.

In all honesty, I stopped "giving up" alcohol and sweets for Lent about a week and a half early. I didn't make the decision because I wanted to get toasty at a family wedding, or at the Easter dinner that was on Saturday instead of Sunday. I did it because I felt that I found what I wanted in giving it all up in the first place.

I didn't think restricting any more was necessary. I've always used Lent as a way to take a step back from my habits and learn that I can live without them. In the words of Dan Millman (from The Way of the Peaceful Warrior); “Habit is the problem. All you need to do is be conscious about your choices and be responsible for your actions.” 


Well, there way a day a few weeks ago where I thought 'gee, I just want a cookie right now...why I am not allowing myself to have one?' Overindulging was my habit but I felt like I had it pretty much under control before Lent was over. 


Oh, and something else that really struck me when I was reading The Peaceful Warrior...spontaneity. So, hell. I ate a damn cookie.


And then I had a beer. (by the by, let me take this moment to apologize to anyone who finds it annoying that I began a sentence with "and")


So, where I'm at now? We've been [trying desperately] to brew our own beer. I am also making my own cookies. I'm enjoying a dessert every now and again. I enjoy a beer or a glass of wine every so often. Sometimes I feel like it, sometimes I don't. I am intentional about my choices and responsible for my actions.

Ok, gee whiz.

Time for that recipe!

millet tabouli

serves 4-6
prep time: 10 minutes
cook time: 20 minutes

ingredients:

• 1 cup millet
• 1 can chickpeas
• 1 cup chopped parsley (any type)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• salt, pepper and oregano to taste

directions:

• Put 1 cup of millet and 2 cups of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once it is boiling, reduce to a simmer, cover and let cook for 15-20 minutes (or until all the water has been absorbed by the millet)
• When millet is done cooking, mix with all other ingredients in medium sized mixing bowl. Season with salt, pepper and oregano to taste

How did lent go for you? What did you learn from it?

Peace, Love & Bagels,

A Wineday Wednesday Hiatus

My Wineday Wednesday posts will be going on hiatus for several weeks, to observe our promise for lent which, this year, is two-fold; I'm giving up booze and processed sugar (and by processed sugar, I mean desserts - not necessarily packaged foods that have sugar in them, which I try to avoid buying too often anyway).

Wait, Becca, aren't you Jewish?

I think I've already explained my religious background but to recap; I was raised Jewish, but I celebrate Christmas and Easter and various other non-Jewish holidays (because my dad is catholic). But this lenten promise isn't really about subscribing to Lent. It's about resetting my system.

Recalibrating, we'll say.

Lent is just a good excuse to have a pre-set amount of time to go through this recalibration. The season is (slowly) changing to spring, my body is starting to get ready to come out of my dark beer and sugar-laden hibernation. It's time to give my body a much needed cleanse!

So for the next 40 days (and 40 nights) I'm going to

• not consume any adult beverages. They can be replaced with beverages that make my body happy and healthy. Like fresh juice (I just bought 10 lbs of apples and 5 lbs of oranges) and home brewed kombucha...and WATER!
• avoid desserts that involve lots of processed sugar: chocolate, ice cream, cake to name a few. Fruits are definitely not off limits though!

I'm also going to make sure I dry rub and do the neti pot at least once a day AND start my day with a glass of lemon water, so I can keep everything moving through me.

So, in light of this, I am putting my Wineday Wednesday posts on hiatus until after Easter. Don't worry though, I promise that I'll post everything that I learned at our wine tasting class...I've just been lazy and haven't gotten around to doing it yet!

Last year at this time, I had a serious cereal addiction. I know that sounds silly, but I ate an ungodly amount of cereal. So I decided to give it up for lent. Not eating any cereal for 40 days really put it into perspective for me...I realized I didn't want or need that much cereal in my life. I eat it now, but not nearly in the same volumes or at the inappropriate times of day (one box of cereal for dessert, please!) that I used to.

I am hoping I gain the same thing out of giving up booze and desserts this year - a little perspective. I need to gain a little control over these things in my life and that is why I'm giving them up for Lent. 

Are you giving up anything for Lent? If you don't observe Lent, what would you give up if you did?

Peace, Love & Bagels,