Master of Illusion
It seems as though Gigi is innocently posing for a portrait in her tutu this morning.
Upon closer inspection, she is doing a highly risky dance move involving a chair. I’m choosing to believe it’s origin is more Fred Astaire and less Carmen Electra.
You might think that I dined al fresco at a small bistro after I got a nice solo Mommy date today to get my haircut.
Really, though, it was just our living room, and there’s no way you could get a salad that smelled this bad anywhere else (broccoli, spinach, carrots, sauerkraut, meatless meatballs, Annie’s Honey Mustard, caraway seeds).
It would appear that Lulu is modest about how adorable she is.
In actuality, she’s screaming it from the rootops (or ponytail tops, as the case may be).
It wouldn’t be farfetched to think that our passion for Nutcrackers ended with Christmas.
However, as long as the Target clearance aisle is still there, we will keep buying marked down, highly unnecessary dual purpose decorations.
It would also seem there’s been an end to misheard Christmas song lyrics, yet today I was treated to a serenade of “Hark, Harold is the King.”
You might believe that toilet paper is intended for wiping bottoms, vandalizing houses and stuffing bras (who me?!).
The truth of the matter is, a few rolls make some nice impromptu building blocks. I sure wish we could have afforded toys this Christmas. What dollhouse?
One might think that without traditional Christmas leftovers, we could not slop them in a casserole dish and call it dinner.
Modesty aside, I think I made the best dish I have ever created in my kitchen tonight.
Indian Shepherd’s Pie
- 1 lb. sweet potatoes
- 1 lb. butternut squash
- 1 T. Earth Balance
- 1/4 c. unsweetened almond or soy milk
- salt to taste
- dash of cinnamon
- 1 c. vegetable broth
- 2 T. whole wheat flour
- 2 Morningstar sausage patties, cooked and crumbled
- 1 1/2 c. chopped onion
- 1 1/2 c. chopped carrot
- 1 1/2 c. chopped spinach
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 1/2 t. curry powder
- 1 1/2 t. coriander
- 1 c. cooked quinoa
- 1/3 c. Pumpkin Spice Roasted Chickpeas (I had leftovers, but you can just use canned chickpeas)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Steam the sweet potatoes and squash until soft and set aside.
Cook quinoa according to package directions (or use leftover as I did).
In a large skillet saute carrots and onions until softened. Add garlic, spices, crumbled sausage patties, and chickpeas and heat through.
In a small bowl, combine broth and flour. Add to pan and heat until thickened.
Stir in spinach and quinoa at last minute.
In a mixing bowl, beat sweet potatoes and squash, adding milk, Earth Balance, cinnamon and salt.
Place filling in bottom of casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes/squash.
Bake for 30 minutes. You can broil the top for a few minutes for appearances (we couldn’t wait).
We had our pie with a side salad and couldn’t shut up about how delicious dinner was and going back for seconds.
Okay, that was me. There’s no smoke and mirrors here, though. If I could clip hair barrettes that say “DELICIOUS” on this meal, I would.
Ow-ow! That Shepherd’s pie! Must do.
Your posts always make me smile and brighten my day (or night, as the case may be).
That leftover casserole looks delicious!
Lulu is SUCH a cutie….
Your Shepherd’s Pie is out of this world!
I love that kids play with anything but their toys right after Christmas
This sounds amazing! I love the kid pictures too- so innovative of them to play with everything but their toys!
Toot your own horn! You earned it!
YUM!!! Looks Great!
And Lulu is a doll!
is it bad if i’m coveting lulu’s barrettes?
pie, yes please
ballet show compliments of gigi, yes please
tower o tp, yes please
I love love love Lulu’s pony tail holders! The cutest ever!
And that Indian casserole looks exceptional! What a great way to use up leftovers, you’ve totally transformed them.
Little girls are always a tiny big sneaky.. you know- thats how we get what we want!! Just kidding…
LOVE sweet potatoes!
That shepherd’s pie looks divine!
hey M. Pea! Can’t wait to try tour creation.
This pie sounds so amazing I can’t wait to make it!!!
i think i may just prefer delicious clips to the cutie ones.
send me some quinoa pie leftovers please????? on second thought, ill just make a pitstop on my flight home and grab some myself. lucky for you, im not baller enough to be private jetting all over the US.
anyways, thanks for your thoughtful comment on my post. im happy to report im not the least bit stressed with work (which is rare), but appreciate your concern in a HUGE way. kyles been away since dec 22nd, so i may or may not have turned to the blog as a way of venting. i get to see him and my fam SO soon though
LOL at relating Gigi’s chair+tutu dancing to Carmen Electra – too funny, Mama Pea.
Lulu is most definitely adorable, and should shout it fromt he pont tail tops!
That casserole certainly does look amazing. Must try it out myself!
Love it! I was thinking Gigi was performing something along the lines of Brittany Spears……
I made a really good leftover slop casserole last night as well but mine involved the turkey…..
~Justine
O M G I want that casserole. Do you think I could just sub tempeh for the sausage patties? Because that is what I am going to do and it will hopefully be amazing. Yum!
I want Lulu’s barrettes. Or a little girl to buy cute barrettes for.
Your girls ARE such cutie pies!!! And I’m definitely going to have to try that Shepard’s Pie recipe. Sounds awesome!
Thanks for saying hi yesterday!
“there’s no way you could get a salad that smelled this bad anywhere else”–LOL!!!!
The Shepard’s Pie looks: 1. very delish and 2. Very MamaPea -like. You have a way of creating soups, roasted things, and just savory yet healthy food that just always is like Mama Pea in the House!! I love it. Your personality shines thru your recipes which is what I love about reading blogs…watching the trends (and awesome eats!) come out of everyone’s kitchen!
xoox
Look at you just whipping that dinner creation together! You should have your own Food Network show – kick “It’s cocktail time” Sandra Lee and “I have a man voice” Rachael Ray out of the way because Mama Pea is moving in!
I love that creative shepard’s pie!
Lulu’s barrettes speak truths. You should probably invest in some that say “prima ballerina” for Gigi. And if you ever find ones that say “delicious,” I am pretty sure you would be in an unsavory store. So don’t do that. Ha.
indian shepards pie? you know i’m all over that
i might have to make this soon, minus the morningstar. looks AMAZING
hope you have a great day <3
ps. i agree, your hubby is equally seksi
sometimes i think my mom had an affair with an indian man cause I love indian food so much…yours looks yummy!
HOLY MAMAMAMAMA – that indian shepherds pie needs to be made by moi now. convenient since my new years resolution is to make one new recipe a week….
gigi IS the new ginger rogers, btw.
Shepherd’s Pie with sweet potatoes! That’s genius!
I love nutcracker’s as well..unfortunately our target didn’t have any super cool ones on the sale rack
I would find a clip that said AMAZING because your dinner looks wonderful!
Um, that DOES look like the best meal ever. You best be-jewel yourself that barrette now.
I am definitely coping and pasting that shepherd’s pie recipe into my “Sarah’s Recipes” folder! I’m so envious you guys got snow!!
I love masterful creations that come from leftover odds and ends! Your Indian shepherd’s pie is truly inspired. You have successfully created the illusion that there is a sizeable Indian shepherd population in Oregon.
haha Oh Gigi, I think someone is destined for stardom!
And hadn’t you heard? Toilet paper is the new “My Size Barbie”, time to slap on the dress!
That leftover casserole sounds like an actual recipe, I mean I would eat it
I am so impressed with your ability to just “whip” up these amazing dishes! I am such a strict recipe follower and it scares me to veer off the path. One of my goals for the new year is to be more brave with my cooking – and I will get inspiration from your blog!
Rockin shepherd’s pie! You go girl!!
Oh my gosh, your Shepherd’s Pie does look amazing! I would have gone back for 2nd AND 3rds!
Loved the toilet paper tower. My mom always likes to tell me that I always ignored my Barbie Dream House, opting for my brother’s toys instead. However, my 2 favorite toys of all time were the kitchen tupperware and our cardboard refrigerator box.
your recipe for indian shepard’s pie sounds ammmazing!
What an excellent recipe….I love dishes like this, especially this time of year. They are so perfectly warming and yours looks nourishing AND yummy!
I don’t think I’ve looked at Morning Star sausage…do you know if it’s free of sugar? I’ll have to investigate…
I just checked the package and the nutrition label says they have less than a gram of sugar. I couldn’t find any sugar listed in the ingredients either. I did find egg whites though. Cripes.
What! Shepherd’s pie was a staple of the H-Unit household! Ground beef (gag), corn and mashed potatoes. I always ate just the corn and taters. Fine with me, but your version is pure genius.
Have you thought about creating a cookbook? You have so many angles to work with! Mommy, time, vegan, healthy, family. Like healthy vegan 30-minute meals for mom’s. Or college students. Obviously I need to work out the details, but I think you could do it! With the Pea family on the cover! OK, I’ll stop now
Quit hacking into my email
I cannot wait to make your Indian (oops! almost put Indiana Shepherd’s Pie LOL … you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can never take the Indiana out of the girl *grin*) Shepherd’s Pie!!!
Can I ask where you got Lulu’s adorable pink hoodie sweater?
The sweater was actually a Xmas gift from my aunt, but I know that she got it at Macy’s. I think the brand is Green Dog.
As usual, a totally awesome recipe!!