Take your time...

As we all know, Life often has a way of bumping our cooking, cleaning and even our relationships with the friends we care about, to the side-burner while it takes over. I’m definitely guilty of letting things like school take precedence over all of these at times, as well as my blogging.

Or, perhaps these are just times when I'm letting school take over My Life...

"Life is what happens to you while
you're busy making other plans." John Lennon

But, then I saw this quote in a magazine a while back, and I wrote it down as a reminder...

"The best reason to take your time is that
this time is the only time you'll ever have.
You must take it, or it will be taken from you.
It is telling that the phrase "taking your time"
is synonymous with slowing down.
If we want to live life fully, we do best to slow down.
I don't suggest that we turn back the clock,
trying to retrieve a bygone era when life was slower.
We couldn't, even if we wanted to.
But I don't believe that we should want to.
We should revel in our electronically
supercharged, unbounded world.
But, to make the most out of this new world,
to avoid feeling overbooked, overstretched,
and about to snap, to make modern life
become better than life has ever been,
a person must learn how to do what matters most first.
Otherwise, you will bulldoze over life's best moments.
You won't notice the little charms that adorn each day,
nor will you ever transform
the mundane into the extraordinary."

Taken from the postscript of Real Simple Magazine, who excerpted it from the book Crazybusy, by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D.

For those of us that are busy more often than not, and spend a fair amount of time stressed out, overworked and trying (somehow) to fit everything in, it's important to stop (fairly often), for just a moment, to think about what's really important, and let ourselves enjoy those small, wonderous moments we can allow ourselves, even in the midst of all the craziness. And believe me, no matter how busy we think we can get, it is so, so important to make time for those special friends and for family, even if it's just to drop them a note to say "I care about you" or to pick up the phone and say hello.

That said, it’s also important to have meal ideas for those times when Life gets busy and we need to significantly shorten our cooking time so that we can have those few small moments and indulge in spending time with friends and family.

This is an easy recipe, and it was so tasty and felt so fresh and seasonal, that it will definitely be gracing our table on another busy night. Better yet? It’s even called “Summer Bounty” Flatbread...how's that for fresh and delicious? (True, it’s still Spring here, but who’s keeping track?) Enjoy those moments!

Summer Bounty Flatbread, From Terri Parish at PC Market of Choice

2 medium balls of fresh mozzarella
olive oil, salt and pepper
1 small summer squash or zucchini, sliced lengthwise
1 bunch of asparagus
1 medium orange bell pepper
2 greek-style pita breads (or flatbread)
1 medium Roma tomato, chopped

Seasoning oil:
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp. Garlic, minced
1 rosemary sprig, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Thinly slice the mozzarella; let drain. Sprinkle oil, salt and pepper on the orange pepper, squash and asparagus. Grill until tender (this only takes a few minutes). Set aside, and then slice the pepper into strips. Combine the ingredients for the seasoning oil; brush liberally onto both sides of each pita. Place pitas on a hot grill until the first side is crisp. Working quickly, flip pitas and layer mozzarella, asparagus, pepper and squash on the pita. When the second side is crisp, turn off the grill, close the hood, and let the mozzarella melt. Top with chopped tomatoes and serve. Serves 2.