dear february (take two)

Dear February,

I'm sorry I was so rude in last week's post....let's try it again, shall we?

You're not.....that bad. You do have some good qualities going for you.....like the fact that you are only 28 days long.

Way to go February! You have finally done something right.

Dear  My Voice,

Where did you go????! I woke up Friday morning and you were nowhere to be found. NOWHERE. Saturday you stayed away. Sunday I had to yell with all my might just to get a squeak out. 

Monday I sounded like a man. Please come back. please.

Dear Tubing,

oh so many stories to tell!

You are so much fun. Especially when two moms (one of them.....me....) go barreling down the hill so fast (like, breaking the sound barrier, fast) and are UNABLE TO STOP AND CRASH THROUGH THE FENCE. That happened. Oh, and remember how I had no voice to warn the children I was crashing into??!!!

nice.

little tubers waiting to head up the hill

Dear anyone who has asked about 

The Cookbook in the last few months.

We. Are. Almost. Done. Just a few more shoots and then off it goes to The Man, who will turn it into a pretty book (The Family Flavor) for your hands to behold.

(if you are just joining us, I am photographing a cookbook for one of the coolest gals around, Whitney Ingram. You will most definitely want this book.....this girl can cook)

Follow us on instagram for weekly updates of what we are shooting (I'm now @_sheenarae on IG and whitney is @whitneyingram)....see  you there!

Dear anything above 30°,

YOU FEEL LIKE SUMMER!

Oh how I love when the sun warms me all the way through. After all our single digit temperatures we are basking in this warm weather. Windows open! Bike riding! Wishing our legs weren't so pasty!

Dear Chacos,

hello old friends. It's been a long few months without you. If it's over 30° you'll be on my feet as I head to yoga. Glad we are back together.

Dear Rock Wall.

You are fun. Thanks for entertaining us through the winter.

Dear Cyber World,

Ok, I am putting this out there....

I figure it can't hurt.

We are looking for a home to rent in the Heber/Midway/Charleston Utah area--

sometime within the next few months (ish). 

If you know of someone who has a rental property up there, could you email me at sheenajibson at gmail.

We are on the hunt!

(and I will let you know when we put our house up for rent (again, hopefully within the next few months(ish) (fingers crossed)) and you can tell all your friends to come and rent The Little Red House!

Dear Readers,

Here is your February desktop calendar! Sorry there is only one.....I really don't have any snowy February pictures because if we are out playing in the snow I usually don't have my big camera. 

But besides.....by February we are usually tired of snow (right?!) so here is a nice, bright, non-wintry desert for your desktop.

(I spy a tiny moon)

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Dear Soup,

we always like you.

Lentil and Coconut Curry Stew 

I love the warm flavor of curry in the winter (posted a curry recipe last February too) and this soup did not disappoint. I found the recipe on the Scaling Back blog and just tweaked it a little bit....I added some carrots, and a few more spices, used full fat coconut milk and yellow lentils instead of red.
This soup is hearty and filling,

 and warms you up on a dreary February day.

2 cups lentils 

1 onion, finely chopped 

1 red bell pepper, diced 

2 large carrots, sliced

1 fresh jalapeno, seeded and diced small 

2 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

4 garlic cloves, minced 

1 heaping tablespoon red curry paste 

1 teaspoon garam masala 

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

1/3 cup tomato paste 

7 cups water 

1 can coconut milk 

1 15-ounce can of chickpeas 

2 tsp salt (or salt to taste)

juice of two limes 

fresh cilantro and lime wedges for serving 

Heat 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil and add the onions, bell pepper, carrot and jalapeno. Cook until veggies begin to get tender. Add the garlic, ginger, curry, spices, salt and tomato paste and continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes. Add the water, coconut milk, lentils and chickpeas, bring to a low boil, and cook uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, until lentils are tender. Stir in the lime juice, and give it a taste to see if you need any more lime or salt.  Serve with cilantro, lime, and fresh naan.

enjoy!

Sincerely yours/all my love/thank goodness for sunny days/23 more days to go,

sheena

How do YOU feel about February?