Productivity

 My best day is one in which I cross major to-do items off my list and yesterday was just such a day.  I completed one of my Year End projects right to the end, and it sits ready and waiting to be handed off to our accountant this morning.

It was several hours of work at my desk so I was very happy to tackle more physical work once it was done:  organizing my vegetable delivery and planning meals for the week.

 We'll be eating lots of red cabbage salad this week.  I grate mine in the food processor and store it in the fridge until I'm ready to dress it.  My favourite dressing for a basic red cabbage coleslaw is Vegenaise (delicious vegan mayonnaise which I buy at our organic market, you can read about it here)  mixed with fresh lemon juice, about half and half.  Add some salt and pepper and you're done, and I have to say that even picky people like this (and by picky I mean Lil Rascal).

I roasted up lots of butternut squash after peeling and chopping it into small pieces.  I'll serve it over couscous with some sautéed portobello mushrooms and red onions stirred through it.  I'll sprinkle some walnuts over that dish for some extra crunch and protein.

You know it's Foreveruary when the sight of a fresh green and white fennel bulb fills one with absolute delight.  I'll slice this up and toss it with some romaine lettuce and a lemon shallot vinaigrette, the perfect green accompaniment to a baked bean gratin.

I was able to tackle some housework yesterday as well as that dreaded task: de-cluttering the storage room.  I've decided to take a week to do it so that it seems manageable (that's on the advice of the Swedish Death Cleaning Lady).  So far I have a giant bag of winter clothing to donate.

I'm hoping to continue on with the productivity today: more housework, errands on foot, checking in on my elderly neighbours and lots of cooking this afternoon.
I hope your day fulfills your vision of a productive one!
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

 Do you have those anxiety dreams in which you're in an exam room and you haven't studied and you don't know anything?
I have them, mine also involve never even having gone to the class.  It seems most people carry these dreams throughout their lives long after they are done with school.
Lil' Rascal starts her high school exams at the end of this week so I'll be stocking up on vanilla marshmallows for her hot chocolate: it's a comforting study snack.

Speaking of comfort foods, I put together a very simple gratin of vegetables that was delicious, and so easy too.

 I sliced the vegetables I had lying around: potatoes, butternut squash and a zucchini, and then just layered them with a bit of olive oil.

 I started out quite neat and tidy, though by the end things were looking a bit jumbled:

 I find vegetables like this need salt and pepper as they're being layered, otherwise they risk being under seasoned.

This is just the sort of dish that calls for that secret weapon ingredient: cashew cream.
If you'd like a basic recipe for cashew cream this is a good one.

 I topped it off with nutritional yeast and a good grinding of pepper as well as some Herbamare salt.  Then I put in it in a 325 oven for about 25 minutes: browned perfection and a delicious side dish to whatever main course you might be serving (for us that was a lentil dish).

How's your Monday stacking up?  I'm feeling overwhelmed by various issues going on in the news just now.  I think I'll set up my ironing board in front of the news on television this afternoon, considering I'm preoccupied with it all anyway.  Only after I get this house in order... things do get out of hand on the weekends.
I hope your Monday is a happy and productive one, and if you're feeling overwhelmed, just take it one step at a time!
xoxDani