Day 55 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Today's weather was warm, as it has been most of the winter!  But the exception today was the addition of tornado warnings and watches.....which is the one thing I dislike about Spring!  We had blustery breezes today, a sure sign that the ominous weather was capable of the dreaded T word!  We did get some rain later in the day, but I was able to capture the daffodils pretty well while the sun was still brightly shining.  Actually, the way the wind was making them dance, I'm surprised I got as clear a shot as I did!  Don't you just love their bright, sunny-yellow dispositions?!  :D

I took a picture of the tulip that is in bloom in the front of the parsonage.  It had already suffered wind damage, however, but has the same sunny-yellow color!

I caught a glimpse of my shadow as the wind whipped my hair all over my head!

The clouds were being blown pretty quickly across the sky, too!

This was supper.  It doesn't look very appetizing, I must admit.  But it was quite tasty.  I'll share the recipe below for this healthy sloppy joe mixture.....not that I expect SOME of you will ever try it!  :D

Sloppy joe on whole wheat buns with seasoned sweet potato fries!  YUM!

I finally installed the PhotoShop that Michael bought for me.  Today I have been searching for tutorials on line.  I know most of the basics from having PhotoShop Elements.  But the set up is quite different and I will spend lots of time looking for things for awhile!  But, the results and improvements in my designing will be so worth it.......I've been told!

OK, here's the recipe and then I'm signing off.......until tomorrow!

Buffalo Joes
Serves 4
"A spill of meaty, saucy goodness makes these sandwiches extra satisfying, but lean red meat, navy beans and an array of vegetables means they are actually good for you!"

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 lb lean ground bison or beef (I used 1 lb. ground turkey)
2 cloves garlic, sliced (I used 1 tsp. pre-chopped in a jar from Aldi)
1 carrot, peeled and shredded
3 cups baby spinach
1 cup BPA-free canned unsalted navy beans, drained and rinsed (I used a can of Bush's beans)
1 cup jarred or boxed diced tomatoes (I used canned)
2 tsp. grainy mustard (I have no idea what grainy mustard is.....I just used regular mustard)
2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. pure maple syrup
1/4 cup chopped green onion
4 whole-wheat hamburger buns, toasted (I did not toast ours)

INSTRUCTIONS:
Heat a large saute' pan with a tight-fitting lid on medium-high.  Gradually add bison a bit at a time and cook, stirring frequently and breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 2 minutes.

Add garlic, carrot and spinach to pan and stir until spinach wilts, about 1 minute.  Stir in beans, tomatoes, mustard, vinegar and maple syrup.  Cover pan, reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but still moist and saucy, 8-10 minutes.  Add green onions and stir to combine.  (I cooked onion and green peppers in my meat).

Nutrients per serving (1 bun and 1/2 cup bison mixture):
Calories: 268, Total Fat:  4 g, Sat. Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Carbs:  40 g, Fiber: 10 g, Sugars: 8 g, Protein: 21 g, Sodium:  292 mg, Cholesterol:  35 mg

Nutritional Bonus:  Thanks to the spinach in this recipe, one sandwich offers more than 100% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin K, a nutrient that helps your body distribute bone-building calcium and improves the time it takes for blood to clot.

Copied from Clean Eating Magazine, March 2012.