Day 63 - Hi ya! It's already Thursday. Who else has felt like this week has flown by? When things get crazy, it's hard to eat well. It's hard to eat vegetables. I find myself grabbing too many cookies and not enough green stuff. Has anyone read the book "Vegetable Glue?" It tells the cautionary tale that things will fall off unless veggies are eaten, like your arm or your bottom.

Vegetable Glue Board Book {affiliate link}

In the spirit of keeping my body whole, todays projects is to dice up a delicious and veggie packed dinner loaded with vegetable glue.

Veggie Glue Noodles 

Ingredients:

• 2 medium sized carrots diced
• 2 small heads of baby bok choy chopped & base removed
• 2 cups snow peas
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 5 green onions sliced
• 1 cup shelled edamame
• 1 red bell pepper sliced 1/4 inch long ways
• 1/4 cup cilantro
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 8 oz whole wheat spaghetti 

Sauce

• 1/3 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Optional Protein:

• 16 oz extra firm tofu
• 3 tablespoons canola oil

Combine the soy sauce, minced garlic, brown sugar, ginger & sesame oil. Mix well. Set aside.

Cook spaghetti according to package directions.

In a wok or large pan, add 3 tablespoons canola oil. When hot add the carrots, bok choy, snow peas, baby spinach, mushrooms, green onions & bell pepper. Cook the veggies for 3-4 min while slowing turning the veggies in the pan. Add the edamame and reduce heat to medium. Place the lid on the wok or large pan. Let steam for 3 min. Remove lid and add 3 teaspoons of the soy sauce mixture. Let the veggies cook till the liquid cooks off and the veggies are tender.

Drain spaghetti. In a bowl, add the cooked veggies & spaghetti and toss. Pour remaining soy sauce mixture over the top of the noodles & veggies and toss again. Garnish with cilantro. Optional: Cook and add the protein as described below. 

Optional Protein: In a non-stick skillet, add the remaining 3 tablespoons of canola oil. Turn the skillet to medium. Once the oil is hot, add the tofu. Cook on one side for 2 min until brown. Turn and cook for 2 more min. Remove from heat. Top over noodles & veggies.

Vegetable Glue ready! Let me know how you like this veggie dish. See ya tomorrow!

Day 62 - Oh hey. How's your Wednesday so far? Maybe you are asking if I spelled the title of this post correctly. "Did she mean "Plain Air?" or maybe "Plane Air." For those that know me, thinking this wouldn't be unreasonable. For one, I have a hard time spelling my own name. Two, I am pretty exhausted these days, grammar has gone right out the window. By the way, go ahead and get in touch if you need to vent about my grammar. I'm here ready to listen. 

Alex Watercolor Set {affiliate link}

Surprisingly, to myself and the people who know me, the title of this post is correct. Plein Air is a fancy schmancy french term. Don't they always make things sound so chic? It means "in the open air" particularly referring to when you paint outside.

For today's project let's get back out in the garden today and create a 10 min watercolor painting. Here is what you will need:

• watercolors in a tube (kids watercolors are fine)
• a glass full of water
• a paint brush
• paper (if you have watercolor paper it won't warp as much when dry)
• a piece of plexiglass or cardboard for a pallet

Head outside or for those where winter is still around, look out the window. Take a few moments to just look at the plant, landscape or whatever you decide to paint. Look at the colors first. Put only the colors you think you will need on your pallet. You might need to mix colors. Then think of the object in textures or dots. Now start laying down the texture on the paper. Spend no more than 10 minutes on the painting and no drawing first.

For the record, I tried 4 times to paint this lavender plant. However, it was nice to be outside and it was a great test for my brain. How did you like your plein air project? 

Day 61 - Well, hello there! Is anyone else feeling like they need to get outside? I've been locked down at my desk for several days in a row. Every part of me is saying go and step outside, stretch the legs, soak up some vitamin D and dig up some dirt.

Renee's Garden Seeds: Painted Lady, April In Paris, Alpine Strawberries Heirloom Pineapple, Watermelon Heirloom Icebox {affiliate links}

Just For Kids Garden Tool Set {affiliate link}

I come from along line of farmers but for some reason I have never been great at gardening. Something either shrivels or gets eaten under my watch. Don't even ask me about the skunk and strawberries story. It just will bring me to tears. However, I'm optimistic this is the year I am going to turn these dirt clods into a hearty english herb garden. 

Today's project is to get outside and dig up some dirt. Planning a big garden isn't necessary. Just pick up a packet of seeds, find a good spot and start digging. Create a little green space with the space available. In 4 weeks, with a little sunshine, water and love there will little sprouts of hope. What are you going to sow? Happy planting!