I don’t think any of us really know what we’re doing. I just think some of us are a little more confident than others. Some of us have been in better places at better times. That doesn’t make us better people. It just makes us luckier. I often see online classes pop up for people in my industry helping to perfect business skills or marketing skills. These classes always seem to draw me in…shiny, sleek, happy, pretty people with perfect, bright, white teeth selling things I might need to know. So I have to give myself these little wake up calls from time to time: they don’t know what they’re doing either. The difference is that they are doing something. That’s all. So do something. You don’t have to go to school. You don’t have to look pretty. You don’t have to use all the new terminology. You just have to try. Most of what you need to know in life is out in the world, ready to be discovered and shared. Whatever it is you want in life, just try. Look at where you find inspiration and go after that. Don’t look at what the next person has. The stuff they have doesn’t cause happiness. Just because they look confident does not make them better or smarter than you. But they are trying, and you need to, too. Follow that which inspires you.
And cooking, that inspires me. That gives me excitement. I didn’t go to school for this. But when I graduated college, I couldn’t find a decent enough job to help me pay off loans and get a place on my own, so I moved back in with my parents for about 6 months. What they asked me for, for my “rent”, was to help with dinner. They both work full-time as well, and always have, so evenings have always been rushed for them. My job at the hospital ended at 4:30, so I could easily go to the store and get home and make dinner for them by the time they came home. And I realize that is where my inspiration came about. I love making healthy foods and giving them to those I love. I love sharing what I know. I love the colors and smells of fresh herbs and vegetables. I love it when my family takes a bite of my food and smiles. I do not have a desire to run a kitchen or be a chef. But I do have a desire to share healthy foods with my friends and loved ones. I am inspired to cook.
Inspiration Veggie Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 c. quinoa
- 1/2 white onion
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. curry powder
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 medium carrots
- 1 head broccoli
- 8 oz. bella mushrooms
- 1/2 bunch kale
- 16 oz. firm tofu
- 4 tbsp. nutritional yeast
- 2 tbsp. sriracha
Instructions
- Cook the quinoa according to package instructions.
- Remove the tofu from the package and put in a tofu press or wrap with several towels and place under very heavy books for about 20 minutes.
- While the quinoa is cooking, dice the onion and heat on medium in a large frying pan for a few minutes, stirring often.
- In a small frying pan, heat 1/2 c. water with the paprika, cumin, and curry over medium low. Let the flavors meld for a few minutes, and then add the spices to the onion. Heat all ingredients together, adding more water if needed, for about 5 minutes.
- Dice the carrots and broccoli, add to the onion mixture, and cook on medium-high heat for about 10 minutes.
- Slice the mushrooms, add to the mixture, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Break apart the tofu into small pieces over the pan. Chop the kale and add to the pan, and cook for about 5 more minutes, until the tofu is heated through and the kale is softened.
- Sprinkle the nutritional yeast on top of the mixture, and stir well. Remove from heat.
- Spoon about 1/2 c. of the quinoa into bowls, and add about 1 c. of the veggie mixture on top. Top with as much sriracha sauce as you like. Enjoy!