Overheard in the supermarket on Monday, “I don’t have time to read with all the reality shows I watch, Bravo episodes I’ve taped and those Lifetime movies!” I literally laughed out loud when I heard this and the two women talking, both nose deep in an Enquirer Magazine (of all things!), looked at me and rolled their eyes. Honestly, I can’t blame them for rolling their eyes at me. I don’t have cable so I don’t know and really don’t CARE what I’m missing. (Except Biggest Loser! I run home for that!) Plus, I watched enough Real World and Road Rules when I was in college to get my fix!
Those ladies had me thinking about their children (if they indeed have any) and what habits they’ll pass on. Like, do parents still read to their kids these days? Or do they just pop in good ole Finding Nemo instead? Some of my earliest childhood memories are of my Ma rocking and reading to me. Goodnight Moon was our favorite along with The Polar Express, Curious George, Wilamenia, and Corduroy… yes, I named my Golden Retriever after that bear I liked him and his buttons so much! And don’t let me forget Nancy Drew! I had definitely read almost all of those mysteries by the time I was 13!
Getting lost in a good book is priceless to me. I love how I can look up at the clock and not realize that 45 minutes has gone by and I hadn’t once moved, took a sip of water or pet the dogs. I’m turning into a real bookworm these days, having completed eight books since the start of 2014. My goal is to read 40 books this year and I’m off to a good start! Check me out on Goodreads for my selections thus far! Plus it helps that I’ve been home sick (I have terrible laryngitis… but that doesn’t mean I can’t type!) for two days in a row now and have done nothing but read!
Yes, you read right. I haven’t been laying on my couch watching Soaps, or stupid paternity tests on Maury Povich or any of those other talk shows that seem to rule afternoon TV. I read a whole book yesterday alone! Yes, I practically devoured it. Have you read Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell? It’s a fast read about first love set in 1986 and I laughed and cried throughout it. There were many parallels to Eleanor’s home life with my own in high school and I appreciated how brave and how protective of her younger siblings she was. You’ll love it too!
My Ma is the ultimate bookworm in the family though. Seriously and secretively, I think she eats them for dinner with her salmon! At a very early age, I understood that when Ma had a book in hand, I was to be very quiet so she could concentrate. I admired, and still do, her insatiable love for books of all genres alike. It’s fun when we’ve both read the same book and can discuss them together like our own private book club. Speaking of which, have you read The End of Your Life Book Club? It’s brilliantly written and even though you know how it ends before even reading it, you’ll cry when you finish it!
Okay, enough about devouring books. Let’s talk about devouring food! One thing my Ma did teach me to do, and well I might add, is to make a calzone. I’ve talked calzone before on this here blog before but I made one this week that was Vegan… my first ever calzone without cheese! And no. I didn’t miss it for a second! I try to stay away from dairy when I’m sick, currently because my throat feels like the size of a pea and it’s really hard for me to swallow anything. But I will make this again Vegan, sick or no sick, just for the nutritional value alone. So eat up and thanks Ma for teaching me so well!
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Vegan Veggie Calzone- serves 2 or more
Ingredients:
-1 lb dough (I used Trader Joe’s whole wheat but I also like Pilsbury’s gluten-free dough)
-3 cups arugula
-1 cup mushrooms, chopped
-1 leak, finely sliced
-1 yellow pepper, chopped
-3 T pesto (I like to use my own but this stuff from TJ’s is really good too)
-1/4 cup black olives
-2 tomatoes, sliced finely
-6 cloves of garlic, minced
-1 egg
-red pepper chili flakes
-Paprika or Pimenton
-salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375.
2. Chop up all your vegetables and set aside.
3. Using a generous amount of flour, roll out the dough and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Spread some pesto on the dough and then begin to add all the veggies and spices on top.
5. Add the arugula last.
6. Fold in the corners so that it looks like a large envelope.
7. Beat your egg and then using a brush (if you have one) lightly coat the top of the calzone.
8. Sprinkle some Paprika or Pimenton on top and bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Mangia! (I ate it too fast and forgot to take a picture of the finished baked product!)
My fellow bookworm Corduroy.