I will be the first to admit that when it comes to scary I am NOT a fan. Examples of this: I cried during Jurassic Park, I made both my mom and sister sleep in my room after I saw the movie The Ring, and I like to sleep with my closet door closed because that leads to the attic and the attic = scary monsters. But why am I like this you ask??? Well looking back at my childhood a few things come to mind…

Like the time my mother threw me to the wolves in a haunted house to save herself, like physically used me as a human shield to keep the scary away.

Or when my sister would fashion a duvet cover as a hump on her back, and then chase me around the house pretending to be the junk lady from the movie the Labyrinth “you want a horsy little girl, oh you like the horsy” Might not sound scary to you, but her voice alone which she mastered gave me nightmares.

But the pièce de résistance is one afternoon I remember coming home after school and my mom says “I have a surprise for you, it’s in the basement in the back room” Immediately I think, it’s a new bike. I go running down to the basement and into the back room which is pitch black because she wants to do the big reveal of my super awesome cool new bike. But instead of the light coming on my mom claps her hands, and let me preface this with, you know those people at sporting events, the ones that clap so loud that if you’re lucky enough to sit beside them you would swear the noise might make you bleed from the ears… My mother has that gift.

So the deafening sound of her clap scares the bejesus out of me, but this also triggers a noise activated ghosts that is hanging inches away from my face. Immediately I start to cry because one I’m terrified and two there’s no bike.

And I wonder why I’m still a little afraid of the dark… Thanks mom

 

Beef & Broccoli with Cauli Rice

Ingredients

1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 head broccoli chopped
1/2 head cauliflower grated (cauliflower rice)
1/2 red pepper chopped
1/2 red onion chopped
2 celery stalks chopped
2 carrots grated
8-10 mushrooms chopped
1 tbsp soy sauce
1-2 tsp hot sauce
1 clove of garlic chopped
salt and pepper to taste

In a frying pan toss in your beef, garlic and some salt and pepper and get that cooking. Once it’s close to being fully cooked remove from the heat and set aside, don’t worry we are going to add it to our cauli rice a little later on which is why I don’t want to overcook now.

In another frying pan, toss in your mushrooms and onions with just a little oil of choice and get those started. Once they start to cook down add in your cauli rice (which is just grated cauliflower) and let that sauté for about 5 minutes over medium heat.

Add in the rest of your chopped veg, soy sauce and your partially cooked beef and then continue to cook for about 5 minutes.

Once your ready to plate, toss with a little hot sauce if you like a little spice in your life, and if needed a little bit more salt and pepper. Don’t over salt though as the soy sauce will add a salty flavor.

 

Comfort in a bowl.