Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Overwhelmed!
Brutal honesty...I'm overwhelmed.

I feel over committed, under organized, I'm a mess, my house is a mess...ugh. Oddly, I'm happier than I've been in a long time. Truth be told, between work, studying, house work (don't laugh Tony, I'm trying), working out (that's all for me) and dealing with our little family, I'm in crazy town and still I'm loving it. I think this is all because I have a goal to receive my nutrition certification by the end of the year and get my butt back on track with my work with food. This makes it all worth while.

I want to be in the kitchen, but that seems to be rare these days. Tony is picking up the slack and dealing with dinner most nights, which is hard for him since his work load hasn't slacked off at all. I try to help him plan and get things ready, but still, I'm not the one in charge of the kitchen on most nights.

On the nights I am around, the light is so bad by the time we get to dinner. I really hate that. Oh well, I guess you roll with the times (literally). I have discovered a huge help for me is to roast a ton of vegetables at a time, so I have quick fixes to take with me when I need them!

Brussels Sprouts with Nutritional Yeast and an Over Easy Egg!

Oven Roasted Eggplant and Red Peppers covered in Tomato Sauce served with Toasted Socca

Roasted Red Potatoes, Red Peppers and Carrots

I love eggplant roasted like this. It's so easy and does not get mushy.

Oven Roasted Broccoli is also hi on my love list! The flavor definitely intensifies and I love the crunchy trees!

Here's the method to my madness. I literally throw everything on a couple my Better Homes and Gardens sheet pans and roast them until golden brown. Have I mentioned how much I love these pans...well I do and they are so inexpensive. Saves me time and money! 

Anyway, it's Wednesday! I have high hopes for today with hopefully some tree festivities this evening...and maybe even some sausage balls for my main squeeze! Have a great day!

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posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 10:03 PM  
24 Comments:
  • At November 30, 2011 at 7:45 AM, Anonymous Heather said…

    Roasted broccoli is seriously my most favorite vegetable EVER!
    I hope the madness calms down for you soon - have a great Wednesday!

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 7:54 AM, Blogger nicole said…

    This comment has been removed by the author.

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 7:55 AM, Blogger Nicole said…

    i feel ya on the craziness and the housework not getting done. I like how you do a bunch of things at a time - I tell my clients to do that too, but I've been faling short doing it for myself!

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 8:04 AM, Anonymous lauren@spicedplate said…

    I just posted about how much I LOVE roasted veggies (esp. eggplants and brussels sprouts!) but how I always some how forget to turn the oven on and go right to stove top.

    I hope that you start to feel more calm and relaxed soon...sending a peaceful day your way!

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 8:10 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    2-working parents is a load, and since you like to cook everything from scratch... I don't know how you would do it. Got to work out the shortcuts. When I'm smart on Sat or Sunday, I'll cook 2-3 things at the same time to eat later in the week: chili, spaghetti sauce and roasting something. At least in winter the overheated kitchen is bearable.
    Also we eat a lot of roasted things that actually require very little prep, all Karl has to do it put it in the oven.
    Cat Story

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 8:40 AM, Blogger Jen said…

    Now I need to go get some veggies and roast! I seriously think you could roast just about anything and I'd eat it. Yum!!! Also need some of those pans. Mine have been looking nasty lately.

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 8:47 AM, Anonymous Madeline- Greens and Jeans said…

    Roasted veggies are the best thing ever. Seriously. I even have Colin addicted to them.

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 9:00 AM, Anonymous Pure2raw twins said…

    girl we hear ya on being overwhelmed, we are experiencing that right now! sending hugs your way :)

    xoxo
    Lori

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 9:03 AM, Anonymous Amy B @ Second City Randomness said…

    I'm glad you and Tony are so good at tag-teaming! It makes everything else seem a little less stressful, I'm sure. :) Don't worry- keep on plugging through!

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 9:28 AM, Blogger Felicia said…

    i'm majorly obsessed with roasted broccoli and brussel sprouts. seriously i could eat an entire tray of roasted brocc!! its sooo goood!

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 10:45 AM, Anonymous Estela @ Weekly Bite said…

    I'm right there with you on the craziness. My days are so busy sometimes I forget I even had a blog... oops :)

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 11:00 AM, Anonymous Lee said…

    I hope you feel un-overwhelmed soon! Roasted veggies look delicious. I like to put a bunch of nutritional yeast on mine too.

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 11:00 AM, Anonymous Anna @ On Anna's Plate said…

    Sounds like the best kind of crazy-- the happy kind :-)

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 11:25 AM, Blogger Cotter Crunch said…

    oh gosh, i totally feel ya! but you are a master chef even when you are overwhelmed! that says a lot. Praying for some rest for you. xoxo

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 12:13 PM, Blogger Stephanie said…

    I hope that the school stuff is going well :) All those roasted veggies look amazing!!

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 12:32 PM, Anonymous Health Bee said…

    Thanks for the post. Hang in there, it will be better soon. Hope you're have a calmer rest of the week. :-)

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 2:32 PM, Blogger Emily said…

    Roasted veggies are the best! I did a bunch of sweet potato and turnip on Sunday and have been loving it over bulgur with some almonds. Yum.

    So glad that you're happy. :) Hang in with the craziness. You'll get through it!!

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 5:28 PM, Anonymous Michael@noflournosugardiet said…

    Hi Sareena,
    Incredibly cool design, your milk carton outline! Did you design it, a friend, or hire out?

    Re: Brussels Sprouts- baked some for thanksgiving using a recipe. They were good, but did NOT hold up to re-heats via microwave. What's your experience w/BRussels leftovers?
    thanks!
    Michael

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 5:37 PM, Blogger Heather Iacobacci-Miller said…

    I'll take the eggplant with socca please ;-) I am glad to hear you're happy at least. I know you're doing something right now that might make things more hectic, but will pay off big time in the end. And I know all that studying has your brain going - and I have a feeling that's something that makes you happy.

     
  • At November 30, 2011 at 11:33 PM, Anonymous Christin@purplebirdblog said…

    Now I need a giant bowl of brussels sprouts with nooch and a runny egg... looks amazing! You ROCK and you've got this sh*t! <3

     
  • At December 1, 2011 at 11:20 AM, Anonymous Kim @ Cook It Allergy Free said…

    LOL! Welcome to Crazy town! We always have room for more neighbors here. ;) I have been living in this town for a while now. Everyone is friendly, frazzled, and a whole lot of fun!

    I totally get what you are saying. It is just so hard to balance it all. Wishing you peace, calm, and organization this season! ;)

     
  • At December 1, 2011 at 6:39 PM, Anonymous STUFT Mama said…

    Sarena- I feel you! I am overwhelmed every-single-day. It's hitting me hard right now though. :) Ugh.
    Roasted veggies=LOVE! Broccoli is my favorite too! And.. I can get the boys to eat them. Added bonus.
    Take it easy. On step at a time (that's what I keep telling myself). :)

     
  • At December 1, 2011 at 9:00 PM, Anonymous Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli said…

    Tis the season to be overwhelmed! And you've got enough WITHOUT the extra load of the holidays! I love that you are staying positive instead of letting the craziness get to you!

    Can you believe I've never ever had roasted broccoli? Me of all people?! It's just that I love it raw so much that I always eat it all before I think about roasting it...same thing happens with those darn okras too! ;) Okras? Is that right? Hmm...

     
  • At December 4, 2011 at 5:02 PM, Blogger Simply Life said…

    oh I hate lighting issues- your photos look great those and those veggies look even better!

     
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Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen
Home: Atlanta, GA, United States
About Me: Lactose Challenged
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