Monthly Archives: August 2016

Box Grater Tomato Basil Sauce

Okay…so I’ve been wanting to try this kitchen magic ever since I saw it online. The only ingredient I was missing was fresh Basil, so when I got by the supermarket I picked up a little Basil plant!  You can have a look at my online inspiration from Food and Wine HERE.

You know how trying to replicate online recipes, crafts, etc goes. Hey what could go wrong!? Well I am delighted to report that this one is a keeper!

First I put a large pot of water on the stove to boil for my spaghetti. Be sure you add a couple TBS of olive oil. You will be draining the water, but no rinsing so your pasta stays nice and steamy!  The olive oil keeps it from sticking together. 😊

Once I got the pasta going I had 8 minutes to assemble my ingredients and make my fresh tomato basil sauce. Here’s all you need:


You’ll need a box grater (though I’m sure any large grater will do the job) and a bowl to catch the grated tomatoes. I used three fresh garden tomatoes, olive oil, Basil and a bit of salt and pepper to taste. Then came the fun part! I sliced each tomato in half and grated each one down to the skin. It was amazing! It worked just like the video as you can see here:


Well my skins aren’t quite as thin but I was worried about my knuckles. (I’m not allowed around sharp things in the kitchen without supervision! 😀) 

Next I took a hand full of fresh Basil leaves and chopped them gently, and added them along with two to three TBS of olive oil. Whisk it all together and add the salt and pepper and voila! Homemade garden fresh tomato basil sauce that you don’t even have to cook! (NOTE: While I followed the basic recipe from the video tutorial, in retrospect I’m thinking that there is a lot of potential here to add other ingredients like pressed garlic or finely chopped onions, peppers, mushrooms, etc. Let your imagination run wild!)


All this with a few minutes to spare until my pasta was al denté!

After draining the water from my pasta, I put it in a large bowl and added the sauce.


A quick toss and it was ready to plate. Of course I have to add one more thing to any pasta dish…a few sprinkles of shredded Parmesan cheese…


But I have to tell you, it was fantastic! Light, tomato-y, basil-y goodness. I may never use a jarred pasta sauce again! Well I might, but when you’re trying to find something creative to do with all those fresh tomatoes from your garden, this fits the bill! You should try it. It is super super easy and dinner is served in a snap! Mangia!


Wanting – Magnetic Poetry Monday – 22 August 2016

Happy Monday! Today’s poem comes from the Original Magnet Kit.

wanting

wanting

we can moan about not having
or be pleased with what we have
but love is all one truly needs
anything less is showy fluff

kat – 22 August 2016


Cut – Haiku Challenge

A trio of haiku for TJ’s Household Haiku Challenge, prompt word: Cut.


When cutting something
curl your tongue and twist your face
it helps your fingers!

Ruthlessly savage
harsh words from a friend’s sharp tongue
cut deep to the heart.

Cutting one’s losses,
this end can be avoided
just cut to the chase.

kat ~ 21 August 2016


Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 21 August 2016

image

It’s another Sunday, another week for the history books, another week of tragedies and triumphs, truths and lies, smoke and mirrors, all fueled by our amazing technology that blasts it all uncensored into our living rooms, cars and earbuds.

Try as we may to avoid it, by taking a break, diverting our attention to blue skies, baby’s breath, wild flower-speckled fields and la-la-la happy thoughts, it is impossible to completely shut the monster we have created down. Even in moments of sublime zen the cacophony rages relentlessly on, its mesmerism droning like a train wreck. We cannot turn away once it has dipped a toe into our shuttered hearts.

I believe those of us who live live’s of good will and gentle intentions, who are most horrified, should fight our aversion and take it all in, letting it rip our souls asunder. Not because we are masochists, but because only the meek are promised earth’s inheritance. The drowning do not realize they are drowning once instinct kicks in. Fierce survival takes over causing the victim to flail and fight for air, taking even their rescuer down under with them.

It is wishfully indulgent of me to think I can avoid it. But with feet firmly planted on dry land I am compelled again and again to offer my hand in rescue. The greatest tragedy is that some will refuse my hand to be swallowed into the abyss.

These are wild and weary times for so many of us. May those of us who still have embers of hope left in our hearts fan the flames and not be afraid to let our light shine.

Shi Sai Sunday’s Week in ReVerse – 21 August 2016

remember without lingering
and don’t get too comfortable here
evil lurks in carry-ons
of souls longing for warmth
and fiery sun glows red at cusp of day,
people get jumpy
had a mind for something sweet
fire and ice collide
‘tis mesmerism
breaks my heart to see it like this
let’s leave this withering world and stroll along the ancient path to eden’s sacred garden…

kat


The Shi Sai, (formerly known as a ReVerse) is a new form I came up with during Poetry Month in April 2016. I’ve actually been writing shu sai for years but was inspired to give it a prooer name. It is a poem created by taking one line of verse from several poems of an author’s own collection. The shi sai is done as a review of a series or collection of poems and therefore, each line should flow in chronological order of the dates the poems were written (from oldest to new). The lines chosen should be the author’s favorite from each poem. This form works best if the author resists the temptation to read the full new poem before all the verses have been added. (It helps one to resist the impulse to change a line to make it “fit”.


Come With Me – Magnetic Poetry Saturday

ComeWithMe

come with me at
dawn my love, let’s
leave this withering
world and stroll
along the ancient
path to eden’s sacred
garden…our intuition
knows the way,
we’ll follow her
sweet song to live
there you and I always
in harmony and peace

kat ~ 20 August 2016

Another Magnetic Poetry Saturday offering for Elusive Trope’s weekly challenge. This jumble of words came from the Nature Kit at Magnetic Poetry Online.