Photo Friday: VDS Sustainability Dinner

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Sustainability Dinner

Nashville, TN

Fall 2009

An early Thanksgiving dinner with local turkeys, sweet potatoes, kale, cheeses, eggs, and the list goes on! It was lovely and oh-so yummy. The vegan chickpea gravy would be my favorite. Along with the gingerbread cake. I am part of such a wonderful community who cares about people and the earth. Thanks be to a Creator who blesses us with abundant love, fellowship, and food. Amen? Amen.

Now it is just time to pass it on...

BEAT

More than 30 seconds?

My brother recently commented that it only takes 30 seconds to read my blog. Have I been lacking substance? Too many pictures? (What? I like pictures.)

Maybe I am tired of words. Yes, I know I am a talker. (Go ahead. Laugh.) I write constantly. I think continually. And I talk. Constantly and continually. Put those things together and I arrive at disliking words.

I want to share those thoughts. I don't do all this thinking for nothing. Maybe you didn't come here to hear about God. Well, find another blog. I'm going to talk about God because I think about God about...80% of the day. Let's all remember, I am getting a degree about the Divine. Getting kinda tired of reading about my friends? That is about 7% of my thinking. The other 13% is consumed with family, future, and food. (I like food. I really like good food.) The future thoughts are starting to take up more and more time as graduation and the hopes of commissioning loom nearer and closer.

Maybe Photo Friday will be joined by Thursday Thought? Or Soapbox Sunday? These thoughts will consume me if I don't get them on paper...err screen. I am tired of words, but the words are not tired of me. This is the tension that I struggle with when blogging. I have substance. And I want my words to be worth more than 30 seconds.

Working on it.

BEAT

ps: These pictures are some highlights of my birthday dinner. Oh the laughter. And the trash talking. Plus the lovely kissing and hugging...and grabbing?

Julie and Julia

Some get excited about action movies. Good for you. Some like comedies. Why not? Others can't wait for those Oscar nominated dramas. Me? A movie about food. I get overly excited about a movie that focuses on cooking, learning to cook, becoming a better cook, and eating that which has been cooked.

I'm going with friends to see Julie and Julia this weekend. Can't wait. I love movies that required actors to gain weight. It makes the viewing experience more real...and fair.

Let's eat,

BEAT

Loveless

My bestest buddy and I went to the Loveless Cafe last night. This is a famous restaurant in Nashville that has been featured on the Food Network and the Travel Channel. The Biscuit Lady did loose to Bobby Flay on Throwdown. I would disagree. The Loveless has the most amazing biscuits. And the jellies and jams to accompany them are to die for. I think the peach preserves would be my favorite. You know, because I am from Georgia and all.

I had fried catfish, fried okra, and cucumber and onion salad. Something light and airy for summer. The bestest went for the yellow sides plate-hashbrown casserole, creamed corn, mac & cheese...and then changed it up with some green beans.

So, so good. I need to make the Loveless a bigger priority in my life. If you want to come visit, we can make the Loveless a priority together.

got biscuits?

BEAT

Photo Friday: Reward

Black Cherry Danish

Alpha Bakery

Nashville, TN

April 2009

Just a little reward as I finish finals.

Bless me,

BEAT

Potlucking People

What a way to celebrate. Food and fellowship as a means of renewing grace. 

Joining together. Shouting and singing the long awaited "alleluias" of God's reign.

Finally. We are resurrection people. 

Good news abounds,

BEAT

Cooking with BEAT

Ladies and Gents, 

All I want to do is cook. Not so much eat it. Just cook. I've been searching all day for recipes. I normally cook a few things on Sundays for lunch in the coming week. I couldn't wait until Sunday. 

Over the last twenty four hours I've cooked the following:

1. Hummus. Yummy extra garlic hummus. I made way too much. But it was very cheap because I used dried beans. 

2. Guacamole. I did eat all of it because it doesn't keep so well when made fresh.

3. Onion and mushroom quesadillas. This was dinner last night.

4. Onion, pepper, mushroom, and egg breakfast burritos. With salsa covering the top.  I actually had these for brunch. 

5. Scalloped potatoes. From scratch. I just tasted. The rest went into individual containers for the coming week. 

6. Chickpea and onion salad with pomegranate vinaigrette. This was dinner. Lots left over for the coming week. 

7. Strawberry and honey pastry. I found some leftover puff pastry in the freezer. And strawberries are so cheap. I made a warm strawberry compote with honey. 

Next on the list will be rice, broccoli, and faux-chicken casserole. Probably with some cheddar cheese. 

And if you want to know about a great sugar substitute, try out AGAVE. Really wonderful. Even Dr. Oz from Oprah says it is the best. Great in coffee, tea, and cooking. 

I will keep you updated. And trust me, I made most of these dishes for the coming week. The guacamole and strawberry pastry were the best. Plus, when I cook, I never want the food because I'm tired of looking and smelling it. Maybe this is the best diet plan!

Cook upon cook,

BEAT