Selfies by The Monkey

Sausage And Kale Soup

Sausage and Kale Soup

2 tbsp olive oil or grapeseed oil

1 package (approximately 1 pound) mild italian sausage (or spicy, whatever your taste buds like)

1 small-ish onion, chopped

3 larger carrots, diced for small throats (because carrots are choking hazards, weird parent thing)

6 small potatoes, chopped

1 tsp chopped garlic (about 1-2 cloves, depending on size)

4 cups veggie or chicken broth, whatever you have on hand

1 tsp ground basil

1/2 tsp ground marjoram

1 bunch lacinto kale, rinsed and chopped or torn into 1-2 inch pieces

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: 1-3 ice cubes worth of pesto, parsley for garnish

To serve: crusty bread or pita chips

Heat a stockpot over medium-high heat. When hot, add in the oil, then the italian sausage breaking it into bite size pieces. 

After 3 minutes, add in the onion, carrots, potatoes, and garlic. Soften and let them brown up a bit until the sausage is cooked through, maybe 6-10 minutes. 

Add in the basil and marjoram, stir until it smells amazing, about a minute. 

Add in the broth. Bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. 

Add the kale and chickpeas. Simmer for another 5 minutes or until chickpeas are warmed through and kale is nicely wilted. 

If using pesto, add in 1-2 large tablespoons or 1-3 ice cubes of frozen pesto. I think this is the extra ingredient that makes this soup delicious! I used homemade pesto that I made using CSA ingredients last fall and froze in an ice cube tray. Use homemade OR store bought, whatever is easiest for you.

Add Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with pita chips, crusty bread, etc... 

Book Review: Bad Feminist

You know when you're angry and you don't know why? You just can't put words to those words that a man mansplained to you? Well, this is that book. Roxane Gay puts those words in your mouth and makes you do a fist pump for putting words to your feelings.

As a woman in this modern world, it's so freaking exhausting to have to explain over and over again why cat calling is offensive, why touching my shoulder or arm is offensive, why it's not ok to joke about rape. I mean really, if you have to be told to not do these things, you're the one with the problem, not me. At the same token, if I have to pretend to be stupid so I don't offend a man, that's fucked up too. Masculinity is not defined by MY PRETENDING THAT A MAN IS SMARTER THAN ME.

Ugh. This book really gets to me.

Also, I was concurrently reading The Underground Railroad by Colston Whitehead so I was deeply enraged (and still am!) by slavery in America. I was at the YMCA working out at the time that I finished The Underground Railroad on the stationary bike. I looked around at all the black people and I just wanted to cry. Slaves were treated like shit. Then freed. Then treated like shit again. Then were able to vote. Still treated like shit. And still in this modern day, black people are still treated like shit. How on Earth people in America deny systemic racism is beyond me.

Bad Feminist also points out the hypocrisies in Feminism - like not all Feminists are bra-burners, not all Feminists boycott male-centered movies or tv shows or books or whatnot. Women in general still like things that the public might not call Feminist. Or feminist. See? There's a difference when you see Feminist and feminist. Does one of those words look "better" to you? Right. I'm a terrible feminist (Feminist). I stay at home. I rely on my husband for money, but I'm still a feminist; I am raising my children to be respectful, kind, curious, educated, and wonderful people. I'm still a fucking feminist, albeit a Bad Feminist.

This just renewed my irritation for ignorance, misogyny, female-bashing, and other current events that piss me off. I must shake my head twice a day at news that I hear about violence against women, sexual harassment, someone saying women CAN'T do something. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO END???? WHEN CAN WOMEN STOP PRETENDING TO BE STUPID TO MAKE MEN FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES??? When can I walk on the street without carrying my keys like I'm going to stab someone with them?

Overall: if you're still pissed about current events, read this book to keep the fire lit beneath you. If your head is under a rock and you have no idea about FEMINISM, then read this book. It will make you pissed off for women and you'll want to carry a stick around to bash people over the head with it.

62 Mile Ride for Tour de Cure

It's Tour de Cure time.

I've decided to ride 62 miles to raise money for a cure for diabetes. HAVE I LOST MY MIND???? Nope. I'm just doing what I can.

Click here to donate to find a Cure!

Just Chillin'