Trying to find a dinner guest for Superbowl Sunday is next to impossible. There just aren't that many people I know who, like us, (1) don't have cable TV in their home, and (2) aren't seriously interested in watching the Superbowl. Luckily, Ms. T. fit this description.
I want to be Ms. T. when I grow up.
She prefers vegetarian food, takes good care of her body and is an amazing cyclist. She loves her three beautiful children and is a hard working Mom. Inside and out, she is a beautiful person. The little I know of her personal life, over the last few years, Ms. T. has faced some challenges and handled them with class and grace.
I knew that I had to cook something healthy for Ms. T. There would be no fatty pot roast, heavy-cream mashed potatoes, and veggies bathing in butter tonight. However, I couldn't go too crazy with kale, spinach, broccoli rabe, and other green-colored dishes. I had to serve my three picky children something they would actually swallow. It's always unpleasant to watch Jack (4) run over to the trash can and spit out the contents of his mouth. Therefore, I stuck with what is rapidly becoming a cheap and easy old reliable. I cooked up Brazilian fare: rice and beans, pao de quejo, and fried bananas. For my children, I included grilled chicken. Ms. T brought a colorful fruit plate.
For dessert, I served black bean brownies. Yes, you read that correctly. Brownies made from pureed black beans and completely gluten free. I tried to hide the mystery ingredient from Ms. T., but my children couldn't keep the secret longer than three seconds. On a side note: never tell anyone under the age of five to keep a secret. It's physically impossible. Ms. T. loved the brownies, asked for the recipe, and took home a plate for her children.
Like our other dinner guests, Ms. T. is a warm and interesting person. She can talk intelligently about a wide range of topics: yoga, nutrition, personal fitness, spirituality, politics, parenting, books, and managing a business. Ms. T. is a good friend and neighbor. I hope she has no plans of moving anytime soon. I need her commitment to healthy eating and exercise to magically rub off on me. It helps to be inspired by someone like Ms. T.
No comments:
Post a Comment