I am reading this book that is really good right now called, “Girl, go wash your face.” One of the quotes in it really struck a nerve. It made me stop and think. “You are in charge of your own life, sister, and there is not one thing in it that you’re not allowing to be there.” Think about that statement for a moment.
From time to time, I take a time out and look back over my life and see where I’ve been and where I am going. There are some things I have done of which I am not proud. There are also some things that excite me. But, wherever I am in life is because of me. My choices in life has brought me to where I am today.
I have always been taught that your word is your bond, and I tend to hold this standard to anyone but myself. I haven’t thought much about this until now. If I tell you I will do something or take care of something, you know it will get done. I am a woman of my word. And if I can’t do it I will also tell you.
In this case, however, I have made myself many promises and set many goals and have failed in a lot of them. I have let myself down.
We should never let our own self down. Most will say it won’t matter because it is just something personal, but it does matter. How can we learn, grow and better ourselves if we can’t count on our own selves? I am the world’s worst about this. But I am learning — sometimes the “hard way.”
One area of my life where I have been true to myself and kept my word is getting my health back. This is a good start.
I think I am going to write this down, “My word is my bond,” and put it on my mirror and my computer and remind myself, “Say what you mean and mean what you say,” and stick to it. Everyone else in this world can let you down but you can always hold to your promises.
I am also going to write down the things I am making myself a promise to do — especially goals that I want to accomplish and hold myself accountable to do them.
No matter what you have promised yourself, start small and work with it. Don’t make yourself promises you can’t keep. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. I think sometimes in life we expect too much from ourselves and then quit when it gets to hard or seems impossible.
Take a step back and give yourself a break. If you can’t count on yourself who can you count on?
If you like stuffed cabbage rolls, you will love this!
Unstuffed
Cabbage Rolls
2 pounds cabbage, roughly chopped
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup water
2 and tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup tomatoes, diced
1 cup rice, washed and rinsed well
1 and 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried mint
1 lemon, squeezed
A handful of chopped parsley
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Chop the cabbage roughly and blanch in boiling water, for about 5-10 minutes.
Heat a pan on medium heat and add ground beef with 1/4 cup water. Cook until it releases water, reduce the heat. Cook it stirring and pressing on the ground beef until there aren’t any blocks left. (See the video above.)
Cover the pan and cook until there is little water left.
Add olive oil, onion, garlic and cook stirring for 5-10 minutes.
Add in 2 tablespoons tomato paste and 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes. Stir well.
Add in rice and stir.
Season with salt, black pepper and dried mint.
Add in the chopped and blanched cabbage in the pan. Pour lemon juice over it. Stir well.
Add chopped parsley on it, pour 3/4 cup water and cover the pan. Cook it over the lowest heat until water is absorbed and rice is cooked, for 15-20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350F (175C).
Add cayenne pepper and add 1/2 cup tomato paste into the pan, stir and transfer it to a casserole pan that is lightly brushed with oil.
Bake for 40 minutes.
Tina Specht is co-publihser of the Minden Press-Herald. She shares her thoughts and recipes each Thursday.