Since I first posted about doing the Quantum Wellness cleanse back in June of this year, I've had hundreds of hits just looking for "Quantum Wellness cleanse recipes".  I suppose that it doesn't help that while gluten is not allowed on the cleanse, the recipes in the back of the book CONTAIN GLUTEN. 

What the hell?!

Anyhow, I'm no chef, but I thought that I'd share an easy, versatile GLUTEN-FREE (I think) dish that can be adjusted to suit vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike.

(Note: I originally found this recipe in The Vegan Family Cookbook, and have adapted it to suit my own taste and that of theother23.) 

"Mexican-Style Stuffed Peppers"

1/2 cup uncooked long-grain brown rice
1-1/4 cups vegetable broth
2 bell peppers (red, orange, yellow, or purple)
1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 can diced green chilies
1/3 cup salsa (more if not using chilies)
1/3 cup frozen corn
1/3 cup of shredded vegan (or regular) cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon kosher salt

optional:  1/3 cup kidney or black beans; 1/4 cup sliced black olives 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In saucepan, combine rice and vegetable broth.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 40-45 minutes.  Cut peppers in half vertically, clean out membranes and seeds.  Place in baking dish (or on baking sheet if you like them darker), and put them in the oven for approximately 25 minutes. 

Heat the oil, and then saute the onion until tender.  Mix together cooked rice, onion, chilies, salsa, and corn.  (If using beans and/or olives, also add at this time.)  Stuff peppers with mixture, and place them in baking dish/sheet.  You might want to sprinkle cheeze (or cheeze) on top at this point.  Place in oven and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. 

Two servings (?)

(An aside:  The second photo?  Some peppers that I put in the fridge for theother23 to eat later.  And, though you can't really tell from the photo, I used purple bell peppers.) 

j:  Don't try to tell me what I'm thinking.  You're usually wrong.
X:  The fact that you say that implies that I'm usually right. 
j:  What?! 
X:  Psychologically speaking. 
j:  [silent]
X:  There.  You have your quote. 

(home comforts: day 28)

home comforts: day 25, 26, & 27

I have a little spare time this morning, but nothing else to share ... so, here are some links that I have enjoyed over the past few months. 

• The Selby ... is in your space. 
• Gracia Louise 
• Multicolr Search Lab Flickr Set -- Click on a colour and go!
• True Wife Confessions -- Sad and sometimes funny.
• Matthew Mahon
• Maxwell Loren Holyoke-Hirsch
• Brent Stirton

Also, home comforts: day twenty-four.

Just a quick note about the 'unmasked' series ...

I have received quite a few AWESOME and diverse masks from some long-time blog friends, and I am very excited to photograph them, but I have been lagging a bit with time and, most especially, costuming.  For me, the most difficult (yet fun) part of setting up the shoots is coming up with a dynamic and monochromatic outfit.  Once I work out those kinks, shooting will again commence. 

In the meantime, thank you Tim, Aimee, Jennifer, and Helen for the brilliant masks.  You are all amazing.

Speaking of photos, I have been watching another long-time blog friend, Jackie Donnelly, begin a successful photography business, and I am especially in awe of her wedding captures.  (She also specializes in food/wine photography and the female form.)  Beyond amazing. 

Just look at THIS PHOTO.  And, WHAT ABOUT THIS?  Or, THIS? 

To see more of her work, either check out donnellyimages.com or her Flickr portfolio.  If you are interested in contracting her services, she works in the Pacific Northwest area of the United States and Canada.   

If/when X gets married, I'll be flying Jackie to the top of Fujiyama, where X claims to be getting hitched.  I'm not sure that I'll go, but at least I know that there'll be really good pictures of the event. 

One last photography note:  My print sale has been extended (because I kept forgetting to post that it was nearing its end) until Sunday, August 24th.  I'll be ordering the prints on the following Monday.  For more info, please see the original post HERE. 

The prices are as follows: 

• 4 x 6" -- $7 OR $4 each for two or more. 
• 5 x 7" -- $12 OR $8 each for two or more.
• 8 x 12" (or 8 x 10") -- $20 OR $14 each for two or more. 
• 11 x 14" (-ish) -- $36 OR $25 for two or more. 

So, for example, two (2) 5x7" photographs would cost $16 and three (3) 8x10" prints would be $42. 

After Sunday, I will not be selling prints for approximately one month while I reconfigure my business goals, build a storefront, and create new products. 

Thank you!!

I don't know how many of you remember the torrential rain and flooding in Wisconsin during the month of June.  Two months later, just fifteen minutes from my village, many locations are still flooded (and rotting and moldy). 

That's my lame video above (in Spring Green, the focus of the following article), which I shot in June. 

Here is THE ARTICLE.  If you check it out, be sure to click on the photos on the right-hand side of the page.  Haunting, yet beautiful. 

Not that anyone asked, but this is how we make grilled corn. 

Also?  This disclaimer:  There are many ways to grill corn ... husk on or off, with aluminum foil or without, butter or olive oil, seasonings or not.  This is just how we usually make it.  Vary per your own whim.

*

Shuck corn.  Place ears in deep pot and cover with cold water.  Cut enough aluminum foil pieces to cover each ear of corn.  Let corn soak for 30 minutes to several hours.  (This is to help the corn steam cook on the grill.)  Take corn out of water.  I usually put it in my dish drain or a colander. 

At this point, theother23 and I work in two-person assembly-line fashion.  I brush an ear with olive oil over a piece of foil.  I turn the ear, and my husband sprinkles the seasonings (usually kosher salt and freshly-ground pepper) onto the corn.  He then wraps the foil around the ear while I begin on the next one. 

I don't grill except about 0.000284% of the time. 

Theother23 prepares a medium-hot grill (using 365 Hardwood Charcoal from Whole Foods) and cooks the corn for about 30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes.  I like mine cooked until it begins to brown and caramelize.

(Edited to add -- home comforts: day twenty.)

It's a beautiful, quiet morning.  X went to the office with theother23.  (That's not what makes it beautiful, but it sure does make it quiet.)

I have putzed around the garden, picking the most ripe tomatoes and bringing them in for lunch/supper.  My neighbor, who was also in his garden, gave me another dozen ears of sweet corn, which we'll grill tonight.  That said, I wish that I could eat it RIGHT NOW. 

These days when it's JUST me, I think ... who am I?  What do I do with myself?  What do I want to do with myself? 

And then, I remember ten billion dozen things that NEED to be done, whether I want to do them or not.