mmm mmm mmm stew

Winter is almost here. I wanted to share my hearty homemade beef stew recipe, a Rena original

1 cup mushrooms
1 lbs cubed beef
2 tbs tomato paste
2 tbs olive oil
1 cup pearl onions
¾ cup sliced carrots
¾ cup sliced celery
2 tbs all purpose flour
Organic beef broth


Sauté mushrooms in olive oil
Remove mushrooms from pan
Brown cubed beef in same pan (leave beef a little pink inside)
In crock pot mix
Cooked beef, tomato paste , olive oil, flour, carrots, onions, and celery.
Add broth until desired thickness (the flour will make it thicken up)
Cook for 30 minutes
Add mushrooms
Cook for 30 more minutes

Enjoy J

Movies that have moved me

My Top 5 Favorite Movies Of All Time and Why

5. Lars And The Real Girl


Ryan Gosling plays a man that is socially awkward and becomes delusioned when he buys an anatomically correct doll. What amazed me about this movie was the way the writer created the reactions in his small town. When they learn of his delusion the choose to support him and go along with his fantasy instead of shunning his family. This film reveals what is missing in our society now, love, support, and compassion.
















4. In America



This movie follows a family that illegally immigrated from Ireland to start a new life. It is narrated by the 11 year daughter and she brings a fresh perspective on living in this country. Its amazing what can happen in one year in America. This movie will make you feel grateful for every day even during the hard times.




3. Children Of Men


With the longest innovative single-shot action sequence it is a visual dream. The story is beautiful set in a dirty and violent backdrop of the near future. After all the women in the world went infertile and the youngest human (18) died Theo discovers a pregnant refugee and is given the task to deliver her to safety. Scenes in this movie might break your heart but it leaves you with a sense of hope stronger than you have ever felt.



2. The Fifth Element

Its not often that an action movie makes any ones top movie list, but I just love this action packed quirky love story. Underneath the hover car chases and choreographed fight scenes there is a message about the importance of life and in the end the only thing strong enough to fight off true evil is love.











1. Dancer In The Dark

Bjorks portrayal of a Czech immigrant working in a factory in the US and suffering from a eye disease that is taking her eyesight. She slips in and out of reality with elaborate fantasies with music and dance. This movie digs deep in your emotions and builds slowly. The last 10 minutes of this film will blow your mind and make you cry as you are filled with strong empathy and compassion for the human spirit.




















Other movies that make my favorite list are:

Lost In Translation
Breakfast At Tiffany's
About A Boy
The Big Lebowski
A Bronx Tale
Garden State
Igby Goes Down
The Shawshank Redemption
Pieces Of April
The Namesake


If you haven't seen these movies I recommend watching them and let me know what you thought.

Somethings Last A Lifetime

your picture, is still, on my wall, on my wall
the colors, are bright, bright, as ever
the red is strong, the blue is true,
somethings, last, a long time
somethings, last, a long time
your picture, is still, on my wall, on my wall
i think, about you, often, often,
i cant forget, all the things we did
somethings, last, a long time
somthings, last, a long time
its funny, but its true, and its true, its not funny
time comes and goes, all the while,
i, still, think, of you
somethings, last, a long time
your picture, is still, on my wall, on my wall
the colors, are bright, bright, as ever,
i, cant forget, all the things we did,
somethings, last, a longtime,
somethings, last, a lifetime.