Birthday Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Eating dinner together as a family
has always been important to me.  I grew up in a family where eating
dinner together most nights of the week was just something we did.  Dinner was at six and a moment of each day where we all gathered together to share a meal (albeit
a crazy meal).  Believe me when I say it wasn't a picture perfect meal of
a family gathered around a table laughing and enjoying each other's
company.  And while we did enjoy each other (for the most part) and there
was laughing (mixed with some occasional arguing and a possible tear or two), it was also loud (I'm the oldest of nine),
hectic, and left a lot of dishes to be done.  But despite all its
craziness, it instilled in me the importance of gathering those you love around
the table.

There are few nights that my little
family doesn't gather around our black round table to share a meal. 
Preston sits to my left and Noah to Preston's left.  Todd sits to my
right and Stella is sandwiched right between us.

Often the time together at our table
is a little on the crazy side.  It seems I'm constantly up and down, up
and down, getting something for someone.  Preston cannot seem to stay in his
seat....ever.  Most of the time he's standing or hanging half way off his
chair and it drives me crazy!  We've actually tired belting him to his
seat to keep him sitting down....it didn't work.  Noah has a tendency to
belch at some point during the meal (even though he's threatened with getting
no treat after dinner if he does), and if we can get Stella to finish her meal
in a timely manner it would be a miracle.  But, in between all of the craziness,
the time we spend together at the end of the day gathered around our table is
priceless to me.

As my kiddies grow I hope that each
of them will remember the moments, memories, and craziness around our table and
that someday they will gather their own little families around their kitchen
tables to create memories of their own and to feed one another and be fed.

 

 

Mango and Brown Rice with
Coconut-Ginger Dressing

 

2 cups uncooked brown basmati rice

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes,
toasted

2 cups cooked black or red beans

1 ripe avocado thinly sliced

1 ripe mango, diced

1/2 small red onion, finely chopped

1/2 bunch of cilantro, chopped +
extra for garnish

 

Dressing

 

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut
milk

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon finely grated ginger

2 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

 

Rinse rice in a strainer under cold
running water for 30 seconds, swirling the rice around with your fingers.
Combine rice with 3 cups water, 1/2 cup coconut milk, and 1/2 teaspoon
salt in a medium saucepan; bring water to a boil, then simmer, covered,
for about 40 minutes or until the rice is tender.  Transfer rice
to a fine mesh strainer and run cold water over it until cool.  Place
strainer over bowl to drain at least 10 minutes.

 

In a medium bowl
combine mango, red onion, and cilantro.  Toss lightly to combine.

 

In a small bowl whisk together the
dressing ingredients.  Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

 

Place rice in bowl and top with
beans, toasted coconut flakes, mango, avocado, and extra cilantro.  Pour
dressing over salad (you may not use all of it).  Serve.

 

*I cooked my rice in a pressure
cooker because it seems to be the most consistent and quick way for me to cook
brown rice.  For this recipe I combined 2 cups brown basmati rice with 2
cups water, 1/2 cup coconut milk, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.  Close lid
securely; bring to high pressure over high heat.  Adjust heat to
medium-low or level needed to maintain a consistent rocking of pressure
knob.  Cook for 20 minutes.  Remove from heat and let pressure
release through steam vent.  Remove lid and fluff with fork.

 

*Instead of doing one big salad, I
let each person in our family make their own individual
bowl.



Recipe slightly adapted from Foodess