A Stir Fry.....of Thoughts

Well yesterday was just another filled day! Man, I've been busy and next weekend I fly home for Easter. I can't wait! I miss my family so much. The tofu stir fry turned out perfect! It's actually my mother's recipe. She used to make this for us kids when we were younger and I watched her make it a few times but I admit, I had to call her today for a refresher course. :)

Ingredients:

1 container of extra firm tofu (cubed and not drained)
About 3 cups of sliced fresh shitake mushrooms
2 zucchini cubed in small pieces
1 carrot cubed in small pieces
2 bunches of green onions (chopped)
1 red bell pepper (chopped)
1 yellow bell pepper (chopped)
2 eggs whisked
about 2 cups fresh spinach
olive oil
3 Tbsp sugar (to taste)
3-5 Tbsp soy sauce (to taste)

Directions:

Cube the firm tofu in small pieces (as seen in the picture). On medium heat, warm frying pan and put about 1/2 cup of water in pan. When water is hot toss tofu in and start chopping in smaller pieces with spatula. Toss and cook about 10 minutes (or until tofu looks like scrambled eggs - I know that sounds weird). Once cooked drain in colander, set aside. Add about 2-3 tbsp of olive oil in frying pan. Toss in shitake mushrooms and cook about 5 minutes until mushrooms or somewhat cooked (they will reduce in size). Then toss in carrots and cook about 5 minutes. Toss in zucchini and green onions and peppers. Cook about 8 minutes. After all vegetables are somewhat cooked toss tofu back in and cook about 10 minutes longer. Toss in spinach and cook until spinach wilts. Next sprinkle 3 Tbsp sugar over mix while cooking on low. Then sprinkle soy sauce over mixture to taste. It should taste a bit sweet and a bit savory. :) Last, in separate bowl break two eggs and whisk. Pour over mixture and toss until you see that the egg is a bit scrambled and binding ingredients. YOU'RE DONE! It's a bit of a dash and taste recipe like any stir fry. I used the word toss a lot didn't I? Okay, that's the word of the day. :)

We served it over white rice and sliced up a fresh mango! It was wonderful. I had two servings and I believe Thea did as well. :)



Tea break....




I have to tell you something cute that happened while I was there. Thea is an animal lover like all my friends and she rescued 3 Macaws and several other beautiful parrots, love birds, parakeets, ferrets, etc. Anyhoo, she has one Macaw named Zoe who was an abused bird in his previous home. For some reason he has an affinity towards me but I was always very cautious, cuz you know those beaks are SCARY HUGE! Today I felt like I could walk in there and just trust him and that's what I did. Zoe came off his cage onto the floor and walked over to my feet and put one foot on my foot and just sat there. It was so adorable! I knelt down and just start rubbing his head. I trusted him. He trusted me...we were in love. :) I massaged his head and he pushed his head into my hand as if to say he loved it. Some of the other birds were coming over and he scooted both of his feet onto both of mine and sat right in front of me as if to say, she's mine. If I didn't have cats I would take him home with me. Thea has always wanted me to have him because apparently not many people can get close to him.

There's a point in life where you just have to trust your instincts and go for it. Today I was able to do that even if it was with a bird. I still have a lot to work on in other parts of my life but I know I will get there. I particularly have a little trouble when it comes to humans (isn't that funny, I talk as if humans are another species than me). I tend to trust animals more but it's easy with animals because they depend on us so much and they don't ask for much. It's harder on the human level. We can hurt each other so easily with just a word. If we can all be like animals and not talk much, not ask for much or demand a lot and just trust each other, I think the world would be a much kinder place. :) For now, we'll just practice until not exactly perfect but good enough for that happy life we all strive for.