Bittersweet Surrender

April 17, 2013

This is a blog post I’ve been meaning to sit down and write for three days, but I’ve had neither the time nor the focus to make it a reality. In my last post, I told you about how God’s been working on this ragged heart of mine to bring healing and wholeness, freeing me from the bonds of bitterness, anger, and depression, and I’m grateful for the physical improvements that have also taken place. It has become evident to me that my pain is directly correlated to my activity; the more I move, the more I hurt. Rest allows …

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Roasted Beet and Greens Salad with Pistachios and Goat Cheese

April 12, 2013

It’s been a good several weeks here in the Ellis house, and while I’ve shared with you the highlights of my cooking with some amount of regularity, a personal update has been a long time coming. In considering where to begin, I suppose it makes sense for me to start with myself. You all know about my struggle with depression, fatigue, and chronic joint pain, right? These issues hit me hard last summer and, when combined, were almost completely debilitating. Even “simple” things like caring for my kids at home seemed like an overwhelming task. At the time, I recall …

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Sesame Ginger Cabbage with Carrots and Chicken

April 8, 2013

Have you heard about the film, A Place at the Table? It was released last month by Magnolia Pictures, and I had the opportunity to watch it about a week ago; I’ve been chewing on the content ever since. The premise is this: 1 in 6 people in this country are food insecure at some point in the year (I’ve shared this stat here before), and this means that even hardworking, employed individuals are sometimes not earning the income needed to provide sufficient nutritious food for their families. The movie addresses issues of education and how some folks are working …

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Roasted Garlic White Bean Dip

April 5, 2013

Maybe you’ve got it together and can eat your fruits and veggies by the fistful without any trouble at all. Or, perhaps you’re like me and need a little coaxing. Something to make it fun, interesting, and, well, less of a chore. I hear ya. It’s in this spirit that I’ve been making so many smoothies lately, which have certainly been effective in helping me increase my fruit intake, but as for the vegetables, I find that having a flavorful dip on hand is key to healthy snacking success. I love that it’s easy to make, full of good-for-me ingredients, …

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Quick Roasted Tomato Soup

March 31, 2013

We are on the precipice, friends. It’s drawing near, this season of plentiful produce and easy cookouts and salads that are bursting with so much flavor that we wonder how something so intense and lovely could be born of the earth. Grocery store selections are already starting to perk up thanks to the parts of the world that enjoy a warmer climate, and soon Washington farm stands will be bustling with activity. In my book, there’s no better (or simpler) season for eating. You see, the thing about fresh fruits and vegetables is that, per God’s design, they taste pretty …

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