animal-friendly eating

vegan split pea soup

2012-01-26T22:14:00.002-05:00

i've got the food blahsies. new recipes don't excite me like they used to. the kitchen's cold and i'm tired when i get home. the last time i went food shopping was before christmas.

john on the other hand has been bringing home boxes of fruit and veggies from the produce outlet. he's been making us lots of spirulina smoothies and salads with yummy dressings. he's also been doing the dishies every day, god bless him.=)

we eat most of the produce raw, but with some of the veggies i make big batches of split pea soup. i'm motivated to make soup knowing we'll get at least three meals out of it. it's a good thing when i do go to the grocery store i stock up on nuts, grains and legumes.

i've made this soup a bunch of times, this winter and last. it's the one we turned into a dahl. a few times i used potatoes instead of turnips. it's a very forgiving soup. it's also quite tasty. sometimes i like to add grains to make it heartier. below i added leftover chinese take-out rice. whatever works.

vegan split pea soup

1 T olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 turnips, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 1/2 C dried split peas, green or yellow
8 C water
1 bay leaf
2 vegetable bouillon cubes
1 tsp dried sage
1 tsp dried thyme
salt and pepper, to taste

gather ingredients and prepare vegetables. in a large pot, sauté garlic and bay leaf in olive oil a minute or two. add chopped vegetables and allow to cook about five minutes. add seasonings, peas and water. bring to boil, cover and simmer until peas are tender.

the cooking time depends on your method. i soak my peas at least four hours prior and make the soup in a pressure cooker. for me the peas are done after thirty minutes or so.

after the soup has cooled a bit, puree in a food processor until smooth. serves 6-8, maybe more.

family portrait cross-stitch

2012-01-23T20:18:00.003-05:00

for the birth of my friend missy's second baby, abigail, i made the family a cross-stitch portrait. this customizable cross-stitch project from martha stewart's website was my guide. free printable grid paper may be found here. the project was a lot of fun, especially drawing the pixel family pattern.

this is the real family last spring, minus baby abby...

and here's abigail rose, born friday, january 20th. i met abby today and she's a sweet lil muffin. best wishes to baby abby and her family (and happy bday to her marvelous mama, missy!) xoxo

abigail rose

raw raspberry brownie bites

2012-01-22T14:11:00.006-05:00

to make raw brownies you simply need five things (dates, nuts, cocoa/cacao powder, salt and a food processor) and not even five minutes. they are one of the easiest desserts to make. you blend the ingredients for about 30 seconds, press them into brownie shapes and they're ready.

this time we added raspberries to snaz them up a bit. adding berries and liquid vanilla made the batter a little wet, so we dehydrated our brownie bites a few hours.

as raw brownies are very rich, bite-sized pieces are the best way to serve them, in my opinion. (they're actually more like a delicious nutty fudge than a brownie, but a little less dense.)

raw raspberry brownie bites
(makes about 18-20)

1 C medjool dates
1 C raw nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, or a mixture)
1/4 C cacao powder
8-10 raspberries
3 tsp liquid vanilla*
generous pinch of salt

in a food processor, blend until batter holds together when pressed. shape into bite-sized squares.

*liquid vanilla is made by mixing three vanilla beans, chopped, with one cup water in a high speed blender. in this recipe, lv can be replaced with vanilla extract or scraped raw vanilla bean, to taste.

***

i hope everyone is having a nice weekend. we're snowed in (but not really) and i'm loving it.=)

today's thought

2012-01-20T12:06:00.001-05:00

everyday is a celebration because instead of waiting for happy endings, we open our eyes to the wonder of life, to see the humour and magic in each moment. delighted in the way things turn out, amazed at the beauty of it all. - brahma kumaris, uk

photo source

dahl-icious

2012-01-13T20:45:00.000-05:00

i didn't intend for this to be a dahl soup. it was a vegan yellow split pea when john said "this tastes like dahl. let's put mint and indian spices in it." the soup was already flavored with sage and thyme, which we thought went surprisingly well with the curry, turmeric and spearmint we added.

dried yellow split peas

cool spearmint balances spicy red curry quite nicely. it's fun to play around with different flavors. i'd love to take a class on herbs and also add more to my garden.

coriander

what are your favorite herbs, to eat or grow (or smoke? kidding...=)

homemade journal

2012-01-08T15:33:00.001-05:00

with some scrapbooking paper and an old kitten calendar i made myself a little journal. the book is folded white paper bound with a few pieces of raffia.

this journal/planner will hopefully help me keep track of my schedule, weekly to do's and shopping lists, as well as serve as a space for me to be creative and document life's happenings.

i'll share more pages once it starts to fill up!

print from the lovely lift your spirit calendar by wendy bentley

scrummy yummy

2012-01-05T23:13:00.000-05:00

we're back to shopping at the local produce outlet. this has its pros and cons.

pros + it's so close + it's very inexpensive + i bought the most delicious pineapple there

cons - most of the produce is non-organic - it's an outlet so you're getting the bruised and battered - i bought the most horrific avocados there

yesterday we got some great deals on fresh broccoli, lettuce and raspberries, which has motivated us to get a bit more creative with our meals. (oh, dinners were sad here for a while, my friends. too shameful to divulge here. comfort food delivered to the front door. let's just leave it there.)

this week things are better. we're eating lots of fruit and veggies. our broccoli dish above was steamed in one of those neat baskets then tossed with truly raw almonds and a simple marinade: equal parts coconut oil, tamari and grated ginger. the steamed broccoli would have also been good with just olive oil and salt.

the veggie patty below (topped with hummus and raspberry vinaigrette) is a variation of the delicious "beet this burger" and black bean burger. (i have a horrible habit of tweaking recipes without noting my changes.) the patty had an incredible taste and texture, despite being almost six months old! (god bless my mini food saver and my mother for buying it for me.)

john of all people was raving over this salad. he said it was the combination of the veggie burger and the raspberry vinaigrette that made it. i'm wondering, was his enthusiasm really for the deliciousness of this dish, or was he just excited to be the one who created the scrummy yummy raspberry dressing? hmm...

(ps - i'd like to say thank you to my dad for my new nikon coolpix. i'd been in need of a new camera for quite some time, and this one is the much updated version of the camera i have now. i'm excited to see how it performs in natural light!)

happy friday, everyone!

2012-01-04T11:11:00.001-05:00

"When you appreciate how much help you have received to cope with and learn from the difficulties you've had in your life, it gives you patience and trust to face whatever comes next."

remembering our fur baby

2011-12-28T15:45:00.001-05:00

we were with our sweet kitty when she took her final breaths. i put my face close to hers, stroked her head and told her how much i loved her. that night all i could think of was what she looked like after her soul left her body and how she seemed to be hurting before we brought her to the animal hospital. these thoughts brought me so much pain that it felt like i was being swallowed by grief.

knowing i had to do something before i sunk into a depression, i called my mom. she cried with me and reminded me of the funny things piggy used to do. (my mom and niece called her piggy. she had so many different nicknames.=). i found comfort in talking about her. then i started looking at her pictures and soon i was smiling through my tears. i'm so happy i took so many photos.

1999

john and i cherished each and every moment we had with our fur baby. our friends and family would get a little annoyed with us when we'd cut our visits short to get back home to our cat. we'd miss her when we were away too long and worried that she may be hungry or in need of some love.

when john suggested we watch our videos of her, i hesitated. i thought it would be too painful but instead it had the opposite effect. we laughed and cried watching her during her healthier days. it feels like she's still with us, just in a different, more peaceful form.

as i mentioned before in a little biggie bio, i found biggles (or should i say she found me) on the porch of a friend's house when i was about 17 years old. she was the friendliest cat, coming up to us teens and rubbing against our legs. the boys in the neighborhood were smitten with her and called her mrs. bigglesworth.

she was a chub of a cat, which led us kids to believe she was pregnant. when my dad heard this he let me bring her home. we brought her to the vet and it turned out she wasn't pregnant - but she did have worms! it's funny to think that i loved her so much already that i had no problem picking rice-like worms off her little tush and my bedroom floor. there was nothing i wouldn't do for her.

biggie and my sister, krista circa 2001

but biggles didn't like me too much in the beginning. in fact, she stayed away from me as much as possible! she would lay on my dad, brother, sister and friends, but not me. i'd say to her, it was me who saved you, you ungrateful little...! she definitely made up for it in her later years, laying with me every chance she got.=)

biggie loved her new home. we had a nice big backyard where she'd roam and play safely. when she wanted to come in she'd hop up on our screen door and meow. once my brother made her a bed out of a box and a blanket and labeled it biggie's bed. to say she was spoiled would be an understatement!

when i moved out i left biggie with my father so she could still enjoy the outdoors. when her kidneys started to fail a little over two years ago and she became very needy, my dad knew it would be best for us to take care of her. john was not happy when i said a cat was coming to live with us, but it was only a matter of days before he fell in love with her, too.

our home was like a retirement village for her. she got 'round the clock care and attention. she was the queen, which is why we called her ms. madji and the madj (/mahzh/). she'd take little trips outdoors where she'd sunbathe and munch on some grass. her favorite treat was coconut oil and she had her own jar. she played with toys i crocheted for her and had many comfy places to lay.

madj didn't like it when the attention wasn't on her. she'd sit on the computer keyboard when i was typing, break up our scrabble games, and lay on books that i was trying to read. in her early years, she'd walk across the keys when i played the piano and sit on my hands. (ok, maybe she thought i wasn't very good and just wanted me to stop playing.=)

i'm so grateful for the years we had with our sweet madji and all the fond memories we have of her. she was a very special kitty that will always hold a special place in our hearts.

a bittersweet farewell

2011-12-27T21:05:00.000-05:00

just before midnight on christmas eve we had to put down our beloved baby grandma, miss madji (aka mrs. bigglesworth, biggie, biggles). her health started to decline last monday. she had chronic kidney disease and arthritis, and we did our best to keep her comfortable in her golden years.

madji was a happy, playful kitty. we noticed she wasn't going number two and thought she was just constipated, but it turned out to be a symptom of more serious issues. though most cats will go into hiding when they are ill, madj stayed by our side and even played a little and hopped up into bed with us on her final morning.

john and i thought she would get better, so it was a shock when the vet said there was nothing they could do to help her. although she was about 17 years old, we were devastated. we find comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering.

john never had a pet before and was never really fond of animals. that is until we took madji in two years ago, after my father could no longer give her the attention she needed. she would lay on john's chest each night before bed and wake us every morning. i would joke that he loved her more than me, but i was totally fine with that.=) they spent their days together and i believe this is why she held on so long. she was given so much love and attention, which proved to be her best medicine. we miss her terribly but feel so blessed to have had her in our lives.

desserts in jars: choco-coco cream

2011-12-15T13:11:00.014-05:00

this twisted treat is decadently sweet, smooth and super creamy. add some peppermint and goji berries for a festive delight!

the chocolate cream is made with avocado and honestly, you'd never know. non raw-foodies have tried it and loved it. let's not forget, avocado is a superfood! (one that's getting mighty pricey, have you noticed?)

there i am in the spoon=)

the coconut cream is made of cashews and young coconut meat. the addition of vanilla bean makes it taste like vanilla mousse. mmm, vanilla is my favorite.

the recipes call for raw cacao (though any cocoa powder would do) and coconut butter or coconut oil. more and more are using coconut oil (for more than just cooking, wink wink).

non-gmo soy lecithin in this recipe is optional as a thickening agent. those who like to work with irish moss gel may use that, but neither are neccesary for this dessert. you may also sub vanilla extract for the vanilla bean. i've posted the recipes before but here they are again.

coconut cream

(adapted from sweet gratitude's coconut meringue)

3/4 C coconut milk*

2/3 C coconut meat from one young coconut

2/3 C cashews, soaked about 2 hours

2 T agave

1/2 a vanilla bean (scraped insides only)

1 tsp lemon juice

1/8 tsp salt

blend all in a high speed blender until smooth and creamy, then add:

1 T non-gmo soy lecithin

2 T coconut oil or coconut butter

resume blending until fully incorporated. set in fridge until firm.

*coconut milk can be made by mixing one part fresh or dried coconut with three parts water.

***

chocolate cream

adapted from heathy's chocolate nutless creme

one large ripe avocado

1/4 C agave

2 T water

1/2 a vanilla bean (scraped insides only)

pinch salt

1 T coconut oil, melted

5 heaping T cacao powder

in a high speed blender, blend first five ingredients well. add remaining ingredients, and continue to blend until smooth. chill for a few hours before serving.

***

today i'll be making more gifts in jars. it just makes sense when you've got over 100 mason jars lying around!

gifts in jars: homemade tea bags

2011-12-11T15:56:00.001-05:00

these gift jars were inspired by a make your own tea-bag tutorial found at a beautiful mess. i made mine a little different and only had to spend five dollars (for the tea bags) to make all six jars!

this project would not have been possible without my wonderful friend, missy. despite being almost eight months pregnant, she sat for hours and sewed fifty tea bags for me without a complaint. she was also taking breaks to go upstairs and fix dinner. whatta mama!=)

missy also provided me fabric scraps for the lids. she makes the sweetest pillow case dresses and i love her choice of flowery fabric. the green and turquoise is a vintage scrap my friend carol gave me. (you may recall i used a piece for a three little birds wing).

there are plenty of organic loose leaf tea jars in my pantry to share. the mint and dandelion came from my garden/backyard. the rest i purchase from bulk bins at the local health food store. i swear by herbal teas, especially since discovering plantain tea for my interstitial cystitis flare-ups.

what makes me most happy about these gifts is that they're not only functional and decorative, but so healing! each jar has a mix of:

chamomile tea: a relaxing, soothing tea. helps with sleep disorders, depression, anxiety and panic attacks, migraines, skin conditions, and stomach issues such as menstrual cramps, stomach flu, ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. topically it reduces dark circles under the eyes.

green tea powder: super-rich in antioxidants that combat all types of cancer, bacterial or viral infections and cardiovascular disease. studies suggest that drinking green tea lowers risk of death due to all causes.

nettles: packed with vitamins (especially iron), nettles tea treats a slew of ailments such as anemia, arthritis, rheumatism, respiratory and urinary issues, asthma, and many more.

dandelion: aids digestion and detoxification of the liver. full of other benefits you can read here.

spearmint: a great-tasting tea that also aids digestion and helps to reduce flatulence. thwppp.=)

fyi - the mason jar lids were hot glue-gunned with circles of felt and fabric scraps. if you have any questions on how i made these gift jars, just ask - i'm happy to help!

handmade gift ideas

2011-12-09T11:29:00.000-05:00

this adorable rainbow sorting game is great for toddler's motor skills.

reading blocks - the perfect phonetic tool for beginning readers!

more cute wooden toys from a super responsive seller.

make your own tea bags with this tutorial from a beautiful mess

(i'll be working on mine today.=)

a peek into my kitchen

2011-12-02T00:09:00.001-05:00

squash seeds, peach pits, "butters", herbs and olive oil

baby and mama cactus

thrifted picture frame with niece alaina

view from the sink

african violet

the fridge and bamboo on a shelf

(did anyone notice butters has the same eyes and smile as his late cousin edgar?=)

thrift store score

2011-11-26T14:34:00.001-05:00

at the end of a short thrifting trip, i reached into an iffy bin and struck gold! vintage gift wrap for just 50 cents! there were actually 10 sheets in the package, but i chose my two favorite to photograph.

complete with ribbon and gift tags

i searched online a bit but can't seem to date this gift wrap. any guesses?

feeling gratitude for...

2011-11-26T08:11:00.004-05:00

connections with family, friends, bloggers and complete strangers

kindness from complete strangers

kisses and love from our furry friends

the calm place inside that knows no matter what, we are always ok

the light that seems to shine brightest after our darkest moments

sunny days, chirping birds, brilliant sunsets, and garden flowers still thriving

marigolds and pea blossom

white allysum and petunia

"Today will be joyous, for the beauty slamming against my face is unwilling to be ignored."
Susan Mrosek

music monday: simple gifts

2011-11-21T07:11:00.003-05:00

today's harvest

2011-11-19T19:04:00.002-05:00

sunset lettuce, carrots, kale, parsley, arugula, plantain, peas and sage

our first fall garden has been a success, though i'm not sure the broccoli and cabbage will come to a nice-sized head in time. next year i'll plant those seeds earlier. i'm grateful to still be harvesting in temperatures that leave my hands numb!

the cold and i don't get along - i'd go into hibernation 'til spring if i could! in fact, i've been under the covers reading for much of my free time. if you don't hear from me for a while, that's where i'll be!=)

how to help an injured baby bird

2011-11-10T22:23:00.004-05:00

last week i noticed oscar the cat playing with something small and furry. i rushed out to see what it was - it was a very young finch. it wasn't bleeding, but its legs looked mangled. my first instinct was to bring the bird inside and call animal control (via the local animal shelter) to come help.

after making the phone call, i sat with the bird in my hand, praying and waiting. it looked a fluffy mess, and every so often it would try to move its legs. eventually it was able to position its legs underneath itself, and its feathers went back to normal. the bird looked completely fine, and i was sure it was going to live. but then it stopped breathing, and by the time help arrived, it had died.

normally when i'm faced with an unfamiliar situation, i hop online and search what to do. i wish i had because i probably would have acted differently, and the bird may have survived.

we can't change the past, but we can learn from it. i'm posting this with hopes that the information may help save other baby birds.

source

how to help a baby bird

• if the bird is a nestling, too young to have feathers, try to locate its nest. after gently warming the bird in your hands, place it back in the nest, if possible. contrary to popular belief, the parents will not reject it because you've touched it.

• if it's a fledgling, mature enough to have feathers, check to see if the bird is injured. if so, contact animal control or the nearest wildlife rehabilitator. if not, it may just be learning to fly, and it's best to leave it be. keep small children and pets away. watch the bird from a distance, and if it seems hurt or the parents don't come, call for assistance.

• for a nest-less nestling or an injured bird waiting for help, create a nest with small plastic tupperware or a berry container and shredded facial tissue. do not use cotton, cloth, shredded paper or grass as it may cause more injury. do not let the bird sprawl on the bottom of the nest - rest it in a semi-upright position so that the edges provide support for the body and head.

• provide warmth and a dark, quiet place. sometimes a few hours of rest and recuperation is all that is needed. do not try to force food, water or milk as it may cause more harm.

• if the baby seems uninjured, try placing it in the homemade nest back in the location it was found. watch to see if the parents come for it, but from a distance, as birds will not feed their young with people around. if a parent doesn't come for more than half a day, call for assistance.

caution: some birds are very dangerous to handle. if it has a sharp beak or claws, it's best to leave it and call a wildlife rehabilitator or animal control for help.

sources
emergency care for birds and FAQ
if you find a baby bird (also provides info for helping adult birds)
what to do: finding baby birds
locate a wildlife rehabilitator

squash gut smoothie and some garden shots

2011-11-07T13:42:00.005-05:00

i've been seeing bloggers cleverly use their squash innards to make shakes and pumpkin lattes. since i like squash seeds for their taste and nutrition, i decided to try them in a green smoothie.

the verdict - very, very good.

my smoothie consisted of the guts from one butternut squash (the seeds and stringy stuff), two frozen bananas, two small carrots, a few leaves each kale and swiss chard, and enough water to blend until smooth in our vitamix. it served me and john, who also thought it was very good.

despite some frosty nights, our plots at the community garden are still producing the greens. i've exceeded my goal of two pints of green powder last night when i packed a third pint.

we're also picking sugar snap and shelling peas,

and 36 of 45 garlic cloves i planted mid-october have sprouted. i'd love this time of year if it weren't so chilly!

i leave you with some fiery flowers and wishes for a wonderful (and warm) week!

four-bean vegan chili

2011-10-30T15:33:00.014-04:00

this "musical" chili proves that meat is not needed to make flavorful, hearty food. in fact, the vegetables and spices truly shine when they are not coated in animal grease. see for yourself!

four-bean vegan chili
adapted from the best vegetarian chili in the world

yields about 8 cups/servings

ingredients:

1 T olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 T chili powder
2 bay leaves
1-2 tsp cumin
1-2 tsp oregano
1-2 tsp onion powder
salt and pepper, to taste
1-2 jalapeno peppers, minced
2 sweet bell peppers, green and red, seeded and chopped
3 1/2 C (or 28 oz. can) crushed tomatoes
2 C cooked (or 16 oz. can) each of black, pinto, kidney, and garbanzo beans

directions:

1. gather ingredients. chop peppers, using gloves to protect your skin from the jalapeno oil. if using fresh tomatoes, pulse in food processor until chunky.

2. heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. stir in garlic and peppers and cook a few minutes.

3. add tomatoes and seasonings, to taste. bring to a boil.

4. stir in beans, cover, lower heat and simmer about 25 minutes.

add cooked grains, like quinoa or millet, and serve over greens for a balanced meal. or dip with your favorite bread or chips. 'tis the season for warm, comforting chili!

note: if serving meat-eaters, you may want to "fatten up" the flavor a bit with a tablespoon or two of vegan butter. this is my trick for making soups and such taste more "meaty".

meet your strawman

2011-10-29T23:51:00.001-04:00

this is a short, informative video. to give you a brief description, when you are born and your parents register your birth with the state through a birth certificate, a legal fiction, or a "strawman" is created. we are led to believe the NAME is who we are, and when we accept the name, we subject ourselves to their authority/jurisdiction. the truth is, you are not the NAME, the NAME is owned by the state, and the NAME is a fiction, when you are in fact a living, breathing being.

tomato sammies

2011-10-27T15:50:00.002-04:00

what makes the end of the csa season so sad is saying goodbye to our tomato sammies.

'til next year, you delicious little monsters.

these sandwiches are heirloom tomato, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, liberal amounts of salt and pepper, and a yummy cashew cheeze sauce (leftover from cheezy kale chips) on toasted sprouted ezekiel bread. a nice mix of raw and cooked.

an all raw version:

on dehydrated pumpkin seed bread with crunchy kale chips

a cooked/fried version:

on whole grain bread with tater tots

tomato sandwiches are also great with eggplant bacon, vegan mayo, cole slaw or sliced avocado. pair with a bowl of veggie soup for a hearty, homey meal.

***

i'd like to say thanks for your tips and laughs on the last post with my blemish issue, and for not thinking i was totally gross and removing me from your blog list.=) i'm happy to say it's feeling much better, though it's still a sight to see. less red though and on it's way to healing.

of course i squeezed it but gently this time with cotton swabs. then i dabbed a bit of coconut oil and tea tree oil on it before i went to bed. if you see me, please laugh at it and don't pretend it's not there. let's just acknowledge it and move on, mmmk?=)

things i'm looking forward to

2011-10-26T20:15:00.001-04:00

a day in the garden, harvesting and cleaning up
a cross stitch project (it should be cute!)
the super annoying zit on my face healing
sharing my squash and escarole soup recipe
a homemade pumpkin muffin for dessert
and a trip to the library (the good earth, i'm coming for you!)

what i'm enjoying now - a full belly from a quick and healthy meal, a clean sink, and sharing my thoughts with you lovely people.=)

a funny story for the mature readers:

i texted my mom today to ask her how to dry up a zit. but i described the zit as being full of puss. puss-y. so she read the text and saw how do i dry out a p*ssy zit! aghhh! no, mom, it's on my face! yikes!=)

so seriously, how do you? in the past, i've always just squeezed the bejeezus out of my pimples. john says to leave it alone. i'm wondering if i should treat it with a hot compress and tea tree oil. thoughts?

organic csa week 16: the final haul

2011-10-24T20:40:00.002-04:00

green leaf lettuce, broccoli (there was a limit, which is why you only see two heads and not ten) acorn, spaghetti and kabocha squash, spinach, cabbage, eggplant, tomato, bell pepper, kohlrabi, bok choy, cilantro, sage, rosemary and thyme

siamese squash

kabocha, my favorite

beautiful broccoli

celebratory s-muth-ies

cheers to muth family farm's 10th year of community sustained agriculture, and to many many more!

i had a chance to talk to farmer muth today who said this was his roughest growing season yet, with hurricane irene and record rainfall. funny because i thought this season's bounty was better than the last! poor farmer muth said he thinks he's aged 20 years, but that talking to the people he grows for makes it all worth it. on his site he says it's truly a labor of love. aww!

breast cancer prevention tips from a cancer survivor

2011-10-24T11:44:00.003-04:00

not only is cookbook author and host of her own cooking show christina pirello a cancer survivor, she healed herself with a macrobiotic diet back in the early 80's. here she tells her amazing story:

below, her take on breast cancer awareness month and real preventative measures. a must see for all!

another preventative step i take against cancer is using only all-natural deodorants free of aluminum-based compounds found in most antiperspirants. either i make our own deodorant with this recipe or purchase crystal essence roll-on deodorant and body spray for mid-day freshening. when i don't have to go out into public and in the winter months, i don't wear deodorant at all. i'd rather smell a tad ripe than battle a terminal disease. are ya with me?

more photos from smithville

2011-10-23T17:55:00.005-04:00

last fall when my mom and i went to smithville, we only walked around the shops. this time i was a little worried that alaina would quickly get bored. little did i know there was a carousel, spooky train ride, and a pet costume parade going on. the place was closing when we finally got alaina to leave!

my niece alaina loving the carousel

alaina and zelda

a socially conscious boutique

cutesy fall crafts

♦Cracked... Earthquake=)

the smithville express

choo chooo

alaina with my mom (her g'amom) admiring the lake

a little bit about smithville:

smithville is a small community located in the new jersey pine barrens, about 15 miles from atlantic city. smithville remained rural until the 1960's when the town center (where we were) opened for tourists. the town center has a colonial feel with cobblestone streets. it's home to many roosters, geese and stray cats. my family has been enjoying visits to smithville since i was a child.

stella and zelda

2011-10-23T13:11:00.002-04:00

on a visit to smithville, my mom, niece alaina and were pleasantly surprised to see a pet costume parade taking place. we met cuties named willy (like my late doggy), bilbo baggins and isabella, and fell in love with two bulldog daisies, stella and zelda.

looks like the feeling was mutual!

thursday harvest

2011-10-20T21:12:00.003-04:00

before heading to the community garden today, i ate a yummy bowl of mexican pizza leftovers with fresh bell pepper, heirloom tomato and cilantro from muth's csa. (our pizzas were simply sauteed mushrooms and bell pepper with back bleans, atop a raw pizza crust smothered in guacamole. mucho yummo.)

i'm so grateful to still be harvesting lots of goodies. as our first expected frost is just a few weeks away, i'm really taking it all in.

we've been using great big heads of escarole like the one above with cannelini beans and veggies for phenomenal fall soups. i make jumbo batches and pack it in jars to bring with me for lunch.

these beauties are from volunteer plants in my home flower garden. does anyone know what they are?

the zinnias in the flower garden are still putting out buds and vibrant blooms. (i'm still shocked over what anne said about 'em... that zinnias are the only flowers she and susan the hired woman aren't friends with. can you believe it?! blasphemy.)

and so here we are finally at thursday's harvest: escarole, arugula (more like arugul-ugh - i'm so sick of it) blue curled and red russian kale, collard greens, sunset lettuce, plantain, peas, and jalapenos from a neighboring plot.

today's home garden harvest was oregano, carrots and spearmint. i've got a cute idea for handmade gifts that has something to do with dried mint leaves and jars. but first i must master the sewing machine.

two yummy reppies to pass on

2011-10-16T21:29:00.003-04:00

reppies - slang for more than one recipe.

yes i just made that up, and yes i know it's cheesy.

but not as cheesy as ~~your mother~~ angela's butternut squash mac 'n cheeze.=)

...which has been getting rave reviews by the way, and rightfully so - it's effin scrumptious!

and i love that roasted butternut squash makes the cheese sauce. a culinary genius, that girl is.

the one slight change i made with the recipe was subbing roasted garlic for garlic powder, which roasted with the squash in the ovie (oven). next time i will double the reppie and freeze the rest. (ok, i'll stop.=)

angela also taught me how to roast garlic

(hehe, i was so close to writing angie.=)

while i roasted the squash and garlie (garlic - ahh, sorry i had to! that's how john says it. i'll really stop now)...

while the squash and garlic roasted, i prepared an easy vegan creamy potato-leek soup to have for lunch and dinner a few times this week.

the soup was rich and tasty. again i subbed roasted garlic, and i added a pinch of nutmeg, as i do with all my fall soupies. (you didn't think i'd really stop, did ya?=)

a walk in the park

2011-10-16T19:40:00.000-04:00

organic csa week 14

2011-10-10T15:22:00.002-04:00

muth's csa is back up and running. just when i think i had eaten my last local tomato, i'm welcomed by bins of heirloom jewels. tomato sandwiches for dinner it is!

baby bok choy, acorn and butternut squash, kohlrabi, bell peppers, basil, green leaf lettuce, leeks, mizuna

Pumpkin Picking

2011-10-09T22:11:00.000-04:00

John and I had fun with our nieces and nephews at a local farm this weekend. The weather was warm and the skies sunny.

A perfect day for fall fun amongst the corn fields.

ungrip

2011-10-09T11:18:00.000-04:00

"At a major juncture in his life, rob in the pagé family began down a road less traveled to free himself from fear, government control, and reliance on public energy and food supply, and shares his journey that led him "off the grid".

Ben: Stewart and Dan Stewart, creators of Esoteric Agenda and KYMATICA, focus the essence of this film around the journey through transitional and groundbreaking moments in a human's life.

The purpose of this film is not to provide legal advice, nor is it to simply educate, but rather as inspirational fuel. To become more of what we already are."

fall harvest

2011-10-06T20:55:00.001-04:00

kabocha squash, spaghetti squash, and one little pumpkin

these are the winter squash that i harvested in the middle of summer, but since they're "fall crops", we'll pretend i picked them today.

5/21/11

you may remember that i filled one of our plots at the community garden with gourds. some of you gardeners probably laughed at me for thinking the space was sufficient. well, i learned my lesson.

6/26/11

just a little over one month and the space reached full capacity. after that it was a squash hospice. i'm grateful some plants hung on long enough to produce fruit. it's just so hard saying no to some seeds, especially the ones i saved myself. i could really use more space!

daily affirmation in action

2011-10-01T12:34:00.004-04:00

to some it may sound hokey, but i believe daily affirmations manifest positive change.

(the quintessential daily affirmation flower photo=)

"Today I will be fine with whatever happens. I will go with the flow. I will remain carefree."

last night before dinner, john and i set out to pick up a few things from our local supermarket, which is roughly a mile from our home.

we were halfway there when we saw that the area separating our town from the market was flooded. we're not sure if the creek overflowed or what, but we never saw anything like it.

countless roads were under water and traffic in some directions was standstill. there was no way to get to the market, unless we wanted to get out and swim.

we had to take a long detour just to go in the direction of home. hungry and unprepared for this little adventure, it could have been frustrating, but john and i went with it.

after a few unfamiliar turns we found ourselves in the midst of a hidden gem, driving past adorable houses right on the creek! who knew this paradise existed so close to our urban dwelling?!

a view from one of the homes posted on trulia website

further driving saw us minutes from where my little sister (from bbbs) lives. it was her birthday, and the idea popped in my head to bring her balloons.

so some crappy detours led to some sweet surprises. i just wish i had my camera with me. you would have flipped over these houses. one was even named... creek hollow. love it. so fall-like.

"Today I will be fine with whatever happens. I will go with the flow. I will remain carefree."

sweet sage squash with rosemary roasted potatoes

2011-09-29T21:31:00.003-04:00

:: sweet sage squash ::
(slight modification of muth family farm's recipe)

1 medium acorn squash, halved and seeded
2 T earth balance vegan butter
1 T maple syrup or brown sugar
2 tsp minced fresh sage
pinch of salt

rosemary roasted potatoes
(recipe by barefoot contessa)

1 ½ pounds small red or white-skinned potatoes (or a mix)
2 T olive oil
3/4 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 T minced garlic (3 cloves)
2 T minced fresh rosemary leaves

1 :: preheat oven to 400°F.

2 :: place acorn squash cut side down in a glass casserole dish.

3 :: cut potatoes in quarters and toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary until well coated. spread on baking sheet in a single layer and bake with squash about one hour, or until potatoes are brown and crisped. flip twice with a spatula during cooking to ensure even browning.

4 :: while the squash and potatoes are cooking, prepare sweet sage butter by heating butter, maple syrup, sage and salt on low about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5 :: coat squash with sweet sage butter and enjoy flavorful fall deliciousness!=)

at the community garden for rosemary, i picked some more greens and shot some more photos.

cabbage

arugula and peas

escarole

pea blossoms

our plots

cute shed

and lastly, the stars of tonight's show

sage

and rosemary

do you like rosemary and/or sage? what are your favorite ways to use them?

harvest monday

2011-09-26T20:54:00.002-04:00

carrots, collard greens, red russian kale, plantain, parsley, rosemary, edamame and lettuce

everything but the carrots were grown at the community garden. the plants seem to really like the straight mushroom compost soil over there.

this is my first fall garden, and i'm growing some of my favorite greens, including collards (woohoo!). i'm amazed at how fast they grow. this photo of them was taken last week and the leaves have since doubled in size.

the rosemary and parsley are grown in a flower bed with dill and sage for everyone to share.

i didn't photograph the big bunch of arugula i harvested yesterday, but here's a shot of a few plants from last week. they're growing like weeds!

speaking of weeds, did you see what's growing under the arugula - purslane!

for those unfamiliar, purslane is an edible succulent that contains more omega-3's than any other leafy vegetable plant. though most consider it an invasive weed, purslane is welcome in my garden - it's the best in smoothies!

if you're wondering what else i do with my greens, i use collards for green buns and make salads with kale and arugula. in this salad both are chopped and mixed in a balsamic-dijon marinade, topped with garden grape tomatoes and shelled hemp seeds. mmm!

harvest mondays are hosted by daphne at daphne's dandelions. visit her page to see what others are growing and doing with their harvest!

today's smoothie

2011-09-26T13:02:00.000-04:00

this smoothie is the start of my detox. i'm excited to start feeling good again.

ingredients: one frozen banana, half frozen peach, handful frozen blueberries, one small apple, one chiogga beet, one cucumber, six kale leaves, and juice of half a lemon. yields about 4 cups.

cheers to the start of a nutritious week!

weekend recap

2011-09-25T14:22:00.018-04:00

friday, my four year old niece alaina came over to spend the night and the next day with us. what an imagination she has! the best was when she turned my crochet hooks into dental instruments. it was so cute watching john the dentist work patiently on alaina's teeth with two yarn needles.=)

source

we broke up our saturday with trips to the pop shop, the collingswood famers' market, and the local library. the weather was rainy and the last time i took alaina to the community garden, she wanted to go home shortly after. and i had to carry her back. so i didn't mention it this time. however, alaina surprised me by asking, "can we go that garden place again?" we sure can!=)

community garden 9/18/11

this time she ate tomatoes and lettuce straight off the plants. she admired each and every flower and wanted to know what the plants were called. she asked if she could pick things for me to take home. it was so sweet!

at the library, i read her some stories then let her choose some movies to watch later. she picked ramona and beezus and one of those teenie bopper's concerts whose name i can't remember. (do i sound old or what?) i chose mary poppins.=)

thankfully we didn't get to the concert, but we did watch about 15 minutes of ramona and beezu s , which i enjoyed more than she did! as a child i loved beverly cleary books, and this was a surprisingly good adaptation. like many booknerds, i'm hesitant to watch movie versions, but ramona and beezus was pretty cute.

before alaina left, she told me i was her best friend, then sang a song about me being her best friend. there's nothing sweeter than her little voice. really there's nothing sweeter than just spending time with a child. i'm already planning her next visit!

we finally got some sun and i was able to photograph the results of my kitchen marathon.

first we have apple-banana fruit roll-ups. making fruit roll-ups is great because 1) they're a perfect way to use up ripe fruit 2) they're easy and inexpensive to make 3) they're a nice candy-like snack for when i'm craving something sweet and chewy.

i don't have a recipe for my fruit roll-ups, though my friend heidi has some good ones on her blog. what i do is throw about 2-3 ripe bananas and 1-2 apples in the food processor with juice from half a lemon per excalibur dehydrator tray. i've used all kinds of fruit with banana, like watermelon, pear, peach and berries.

when using ripe banana, there's so need for added sweetener. after processing the fruit until smooth, i spread the batter onto teflex dehydrator sheets thin, but not so thin that the teflex shows through, and dehydrate until dry and pliable anywhere from 110-135°. then with kitchen scissors, i cut each tray of fruit leather in sixths, roll them up, and store them in ziploc bags or glass jars.

rosemary and sage are growing gorgeously this time of year. i paired the two herbs to create savory flax crackers and raw pizza crusts.

a sweet version of flax crackers was made with apples, dates and maple syrup. they were lovely with a little peanut butter. i'd like to do some tweaking before i share the cracker recipes, as the batter was a little too thick and took a long time to dry.

my mom and i also had a nice two-and-a-half hour gabfest on the phone. we love to gush over alaina, and we're talking about doing a detox challenge together.

i hope your weekend was full of love, laughter, and yummy treats!

::floral divider source

the american dream

2011-09-23T17:55:00.002-04:00

since the weather's been dark and dreary, my unsophisticated camera has been unable to take a decent shot of the food i made yesterday. instead i cleaned house, got ready for a sleepover with my niece, and rediscovered this comical yet informative cartoon on our money/debt system.

a few years ago i woke up and realized the american dream i was once slaving for was nothing more than a sugar-coated nightmare.

learning about our fractional reserve banking system and understanding what money/debt really is helped release me from its grip, when once my life revolved around it. i share this video today in hopes that it empowers you to free yourself from the hold money/debt may have on you.

may the information empower you, not bring you fear, lovebugs.=)

"The AMERICAN DREAM is a 30 minute animated film that shows you how you've been scammed by the most basic elements of our government system. All of us Americans strive for the American Dream, and this film shows you why your dream is getting farther and farther away. Do you know how your money is created? Or how banking works? Why did housing prices skyrocket and then plunge? Do you really know what the Federal Reserve System is and how it affects you every single day? THE AMERICAN DREAM takes an entertaining but hard hitting look at how the problems we have today are nothing new, and why leaders throughout our history have warned us and fought against the current type of financial system we have in America today. You will be challenged to investigate some very entrenched and powerful institutions in this nation, and hopefully encouraged to help get our nation back on track."

"it's called the american dream because you have to be asleep to believe it." - george carlin

pooped

2011-09-22T23:38:00.000-04:00

after tonight's kitchen marathon, i feel like this:

biggles snoozing on some recipe books

there are fruit roll-ups, herb pizza crusts, and sweet and savory flax crackers all drying in the dehydrator, plus a big batch of chickpeas cooling on the stove. there's also a huge sloppy mess that's just going to have to wait 'til tomorrow. my cozy bed is calling.

stay tuned for the finished products!

fall craft fair

2011-09-18T13:40:00.002-04:00

this first fall-like weekend, john and i perused the pitman craft fair, which is held bi-annually on the quaint little main street i lived on when i first moved out. (♫memories...♪=)

these clay-sculpted earrings by kasie lyn are so pretty. i bought a pair of blue roses for myself and the pink hearts as a gift for a girl i watch. i took a photo of the hearts on top of a mosaic jewelry box i made a few years ago.

we also purchased a cute little clay monkey magnet for my mom, some spice mixes, and a pennsylvania soy candle. burning candles is a treat in our house. we buy one once a year, locally-made and hand-poured. after lots of sniffing and mmm-ing, we settled on autumn spice - a light, sweet and warm scent.

though the weather has been very cool, there are plenty of flowers still thriving, like these lilies.

in a thrift store on the same street as the fair, i reluctantly passed on a set of vintage 'crazy daisy' mixing bowls like these. aren't they cute? i'm kind of wishing i got them. my fruit bowl doubles as my mixing bowl now, and it's a real pita to take everything out.

source

normally i dread shopping, but not when it comes to thrifted or hand-made.

do you frequent craft shows or thrift stores in your area?

occupy wall street

2011-09-17T18:56:00.001-04:00

john and i are there in spirit and in solidarity. may the protest be a peaceful and effective one.

#occupywallstreet

click for live stream

source

source

"the police asked to speak to the leader. we told them that there is no leader. they didn't understand." - anonymous protestor on wall street

peach pepper punch, csa week 13, and alaina turns four

2011-09-17T18:17:00.002-04:00

hi friends! i hope you're all having a nice weekend. now that i'm able to upload photos again, i thought i'd do a little catch-up post.

first, we have what was going to be my entry into a juice contest. it's a peach pepper punch, made before i got to work canning peach pepper jam with peach, cucumber, chiogga beets and jalapeno. it didn't taste as pleasant as it looked, plus i couldn't upload the picture, so it wasn't entered into the contest. i did love the peachy-pink color it made.

as feared, muth's crop was affected by the heavy rains caused by hurricane irene, and they'll be closed for a few weeks to allow their crops to "catch-up". to make up for the loss, they brought in organic carrots, celery, and potatoes from other farms. it seemed unnecessary, as they still have so many things to offer, but it was very much appreciated.

muth family farm's organic csa week 13: acorn and butternut squash, sweet peppers, raspberries, sage, patty-pan squash, tomatoes, jalapenos, potatoes, eggplant, watermelon, fennel, green onions, carrots and celery.

so colorful!

pretty peppers

we celebrated my niece alaina's fourth birthday last weekend, and the little skooch held her ears again when we sang to her. we're no partridge family here, but we're not that bad! (or are we...)

alaina and daddy (my brother, craig)

ps - alaina's shirt says "all you need is love"=)

daily affirmation

2011-09-13T07:46:00.000-04:00

Today I will let my vision be drawn to the diamonds, rather than the stones. I will see specialities rather than defects, both in myself and in others. This is how I increase the value of my life.

- Brahma Kumaris

embracing fall: a compilation of past autumn posts

2011-09-06T17:58:00.002-04:00

today it was back-to-school for most students in our area. oh where did the summer go?

fall is lovely but i think i resist it because of the frigid cold weather soon to follow. since i'm really not a fan of being cold or buying veggies shipped from far and wide, summer is my favorite season (though i did find myself fantasizing about cooler months in the midst of some oppressive heat).

i'm really, really going to miss shorts and tanks and tomatoes and melons. so to get me in the mood for fall, i've been going back and reading old autumn posts. i thought i'd share them with you, in case you are resisting the change of seasons too, and to give you some ideas for tasty fall food.

she's baaackkk - features a flavorful kabocha squash stir-fry with a summery twist.
(i know, mango in new jersey is shipped from far and wide, but it always seems to be on sale this time of year, and i can't seem to resist a good sale! i bet this would also taste good with peaches.)

oh, and i love that pansies are back in season!

raw apple cobbler - a nutty, healthy spin on cooked apple cobbler.

apple picking and wine tasting - a is for autumn and apples!

fall arts festival - a reminder to take advantage of all the fun festivities going on this time of year.

stuffed squash and raw brownie bites - oh, i remember you yummy guys...

spaghetti squash and pumpkin cookies - and you yummy guys, too!

squash and greens - lots more squash yumminess and ideas for making fall treats with the kiddies.

stuffed acorn squash - another delicious stuffed winter squash with massaged kale.

turnips and greens - a tasty fall dish that's easy to prepare.

festive fall eats - soups and salads and slaw - oh my! i'm so excited to make my sweet fall slaw again, plus lots of warm veggie soups.

homemade halloween cards - no food in this post, but a cute craft idea for kids and adults.

you see kelli, the end of summer isn't so bad!

so what are you looking forward to this fall?

three little birds

2011-09-05T08:57:00.000-04:00

last winter, my friend carol and i did a vegetarian society event where we brought all kinds of odds and ends and had the kids create whatever they pleased. they had lots of fun and came up with some really creative things, like paper towel roll airplanes and popsicle stick picture frames.

when i saw carol's collection of vintage fabric scraps from when her aunt made her barbie clothes back in the 60's/70's, i pounced! they made the cutest lil' wings for my three little birds.

and this is their message to you-oo-oo.=)

my saturday

2011-09-03T20:11:00.003-04:00

in june i did a post of what a weekday may look like for me (which can be found here). i thought it would be fun to document a weekend day, so let's begin.

good morning, morning glory

(these volunteers came up from plants in the 2009 garden!)

madj woke me up at 5:30 for her first breakfast. i fell back asleep and she let me go 'til 9:30, when she wanted her second breakfast.

after feeding the madj, i made coffee and admired the 26 pounds of peaches i picked yesterday (some soft ones are in the fridge). most will be used for peach jam and my favorite, peach and pepper jam.

then i sipped my small cup of coffee diluted with water (for the IC) while perusing some blogs and peach jam recipes. i could spend hours reading blogs and recipes, but i had some things to do in the garden.

first i weeded a bit and harvested some herbs.

oregano

spearmint

coriander seeds

sage

a lunch break was needed, and a smoothie was made with ripe bananas that i keep stocked in the freezer.

this sweet smoothie consisted of banana, peach, cucumber, collard greens, beets, parsley, mint and vanilla bean.

after lunch, the herbs were rinsed and spread out on a dish towel to dry.

then the greens were placed upside down in brown bags to dry out a few weeks, and the coriander seeds were placed in mason jars.

while looking for a place to put the jars, i finally got fed up with the mess called my spice cabinet.

before

after

(we'll see how long this lasts!)

when i was done cleaning out the cabinet, i took a mid-afternoon rest out on the porch in a cozy papason with farmer boy and carrot cake super cookies.

farmer boy is the third book of the charming little house series by laura ingalls wilder. our local library has the whole set. farmer boy is based on the young life of laura's husband, almanzo. these books were written for children but are enjoyable for adults interested in pioneer times.

the carrot cake super cookies are super tasty and nutritious. if you can't read the ingredients on the package, they include unsulphured coconut, sprouted sesame seeds, carrots, dates, and nutmeg - all organic. i'm going to try to make these when we harvest our carrots.

speaking of, check out this atomic red carrot i picked yesterday. it's the largest one we've grown in our raised beds!

after my rest, john and i did some chores, like dishes, vacuuming, changing the cat litter, and other crap. to keep my IC symptoms in check, i made some plantain tea. reading jane's blog post about plantain and finding it growing like crazy in my own yard was truly a blessing!

dinner was take-out of non animal-friendly food, so we won't talk about it here! as i mentioned before, i do my best, but sometimes convenience and old habits get the best of me. in my defense, i did suggest leftovers for dinner, but john said it's a holiday weekend and everyone else is having good stuff and wha wha wha. of course i could have had something different, but what can i say, i'm weak!

while we were waiting for dinner to be delivered, sammy came to say hi. sammy is an outdoor cat that eats and sleeps at a neighbor's house.

he's very friendly, but biggles wants nothing to do with him. she hisses when he comes to the door. i think she hears us when we talk about adopting another cat, and she's showing us how she feels about that!

after dinner, i did some more fall planting at the community garden. beets, kale, spinach and lettuce seeds were sown. broccoli and kale transplants that were started on our windowsill went into the ground. seeds that were planted in the previous weeks are coming up and growing nicely.

brandy the garden's mascot was there. isn't she sweet?!

so now i'm here typing, sipping a glass of live-a-little organic white wine. i really shouldn't be drinking wine on account of the IC, but it's a holiday weekend and everyone else is having good stuff and wha wha wha!=)

a quick hello

2011-09-02T10:37:00.000-04:00

well hellooo blogland! things have been interesting since i last posted. let's see... i experienced my first earthquake and battened down for a hurricane, which thankfully in my area turned out to be just a strong storm. the only damage we accrued was to one of our trellises and some cucumber plants which weren't producing much anyway.

things on the food front haven't been too exciting, though i did find some wild edible purslane in my yard that i'll post more about later. now i'm off to do some peach-picking.

enjoy your weekend, everyone!=)

my first apple cozy

2011-08-23T13:45:00.003-04:00

you may remember when i posted these adorable apple cozies last fall. recently i found a free pattern and tried making my own.

ya know, 'cause apples get chilly too!=)

csa week eleven

2011-08-22T21:39:00.001-04:00

muth family farm's organic csa week 11: kale, fennel, basil, green onion, parsley, collard greens, sweet peppers, yellow squash, beets, tomatoes, tomatillo, jalapeno, kohlrabi, raspberries, canary melon and watermelon

tomatillo - great in salsa

sweet bell peppers

canary melon (we were able to take an extra because it was bruised)
for those who haven't tried canary melon, it's like a sweeter honeydew.

kohlrabi - delicious in stir-fry
kohlrabi reminds me of a broccoli stem but milder and sweeter.

this is a very sweet time of year! i'm savoring the last fruits of my favorite season and getting our first fall garden ready. the nights are feeling cooler and the days shorter - but still hot and sunny and full of summer goodness, like cicada songs and swimming pools.

"Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world." ~Ada Louise Huxtable

food sculptures

2011-08-20T10:43:00.002-04:00

the children i watch were inspired by the incredibly creative book fast food by saxton freymann and joost elffers to create their own food sculptures with cucumbers, clementines and olives.

evie made a pirate ship...

and j.t. made an airplane.

they loved their creations and played with them all morning.

until the fruit flies attacked! the ship, plane and passengers all made it safely to the fridge.=)

fast food was at my local library.

freymann and elffers have created other books with their food art. how are you peeling? foods with moods looks especially cute!

source

i hope you're peeling happy and well this weekend!=)

choosing the right watermelon

2011-08-16T20:59:00.002-04:00

when choosing a juicy ripe watermelon, remember these two words: look and lift

LOOK

watermelon should be symmetrical and free of major bruises or soft spots

a sweet watermelon will be deep green with a light yellow or creamy colored spot where it sat on the ground to ripen

LIFT

the ripest watermelons are the heaviest, so choose a watermelon that feels heavy for its size
feel the spot where the watermelon was attached to the vine - it should be firm and clean (not soft or rotted)

source

csa week ten and rain on the scarecrow

2011-08-16T09:53:00.002-04:00

a pint of blueberries instead of raspberries would have made a rainbow in this basket!

muth family farm's organic csa week 10: kale, basil, sweet corn, collard greens, green leaf lettuce, eggplant, white, orange and purple bell pepper, zucchini, eight ball and patty pan squash, beets, onion, cucumber, assorted heirloom tomatoes, raspberries and watermelon

the photo of week nine's basket was accidentally deleted. it was very similar, though last week we brought home yellow doll watermelon and this week red.

john cougar melon-head

after that caption popped into into my head, i decided to look-up an old john cougar mellencamp song my dad would blast for us in our basement and WOW! below is a link to the song and the lyrics. all the more reason to support local farms!

Rain on the Scarecrow

Scarecrow on a wooden cross, blackbird in the barn
Four hundred empty acres that used to be my farm
I grew up like my daddy did, my grandpa cleared this land
When I was five I walked the fence while grandpa held my hand

Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
This land fed a nation This land made me proud
And Son I'm just sorry there's no legacy for you now
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow

The crops we grew last summer weren't enough to pay the loans
Couldn't buy the seed to plant this spring and the Farmers Bank foreclosed
Called my old friend Schepman up to auction off the land
He said John it's just my job and I hope you understand

Hey calling it your job ol' hoss sure don't make it right
But if you want me to I'll say a prayer for your soul tonight
And grandma's on the front porch swing with a Bible in her hand
Sometimes I hear her singing "Take me to the Promised Land"

When you take away a man's dignity he can't work his fields and cows
There'll be blood on the scarecrow Blood on the plow

Well there's ninety-seven crosses planted in the courthouse yard
Ninety-seven families who lost ninety-seven farms
I think about my grandpa and my neighbors and my name
And some nights I feel like dyin' Like that scarecrow in the rain

Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
This land fed a nation This land made me proud
And Son I'm just sorry they're just memories for you now
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow

This land fed a nation This land made me so proud
And Son I'm just sorry they're just memories for you now
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow

garden veggie salsa recipe

2011-08-14T14:26:00.004-04:00

ingredients

4 tomatoes, chopped
1 tomatillo, chopped
1 bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 ears corn, kernels cut from husk
2-4 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 jalapeños, minced
1 T olive oil
1/2 lime, juiced
salt and pepper to taste

optional: add 1-2 cups black beans, half an onion, diced, or cilantro, to taste.

directions

combine all ingredients and chill in refrigerator at least one hour before serving.

note: for a mild salsa, remove the jalapeño seeds before mincing.

enjoy with chips, tacos or burritos.

brown rice tortilla with lettuce, salsa, chipotle lime mock chicken and red pepper hummus

figs!

2011-08-12T20:53:00.000-04:00

our young fig tree has finally produced a petite but sweet harvest. last summer and this spring she produced fruit that fell off before maturing. just when i thought all hope was lost for a summer crop, the small green fruit plumped up and turned a pretty purple hue. yay!

sunflower with multiple blooms

2011-08-11T18:16:00.002-04:00

one of our sunflowers at the community garden has produced at least twenty blooms. you may remember when i showed how thick the stem was back in june. it's more than doubled in size and the plant stands at least ten feet tall. i went a little crazy with the camera - hope you enjoy!

this week i...

2011-08-05T21:45:00.003-04:00

enjoyed cooler days with the trio in the "treehouse"...

the cat goes down the slide!

...took lots of wagon walks...

my childhood friend's chickies, bubby and evolet

and their gymnast cat, oscar

...finally let the munchkins explore my "white car"...

oscar included

...ate lots of tasty salads with raw eggplant bacon...

green leaf lettuce, tomato, cucumber, green onion and eggplant bacon with leftover nacho cheeze made with white bell pepper and cashews

green leaf lettuce, heirloom cherry tomatoes, cooked quinoa, and raw eggplant bacon with extra-virgin olive oil, himalayan salt and pepper

...was rustled out of dreamworld each morning by this lil' piggy...

new nickname, claws

...started the last book of the lovable anne of green gables series...

my mom gifted me with the collection=)

...henna'd my gray hairs

and received my new specs in the mail.

plastic aunt jemima head-wrap

...made rawlmond joys and peanut butter cups

yummy

and took photos only with my cell, just because.

complete the sentence, if you'd like...

this week i __________.

sunflowers and edamame

2011-08-05T16:18:00.003-04:00

the two loveliest plants in our garden this time of year.

(thanks missy for inspiring me to grow edamame this year!xoxo)

this is where i blog

2011-08-04T19:15:00.000-04:00

in case you were wondering...=)

csa week eight

2011-08-02T14:24:00.000-04:00

muth family farm's organic csa week 8: red russian kale, sweet corn, green onion, green leaf lettuce, green and white bell pepper, green beans, bok choy, zucchini, eight ball and patty pan squash, cucumber, canary melon, cantaloupe, heirloom and cherry tomatoes

love is the most powerful medicine

2011-07-31T12:08:00.001-04:00

by Ram Dass

One day in India on my second stay, Maharaji said to me, “You don’t have to change anybody; you just have to love them”. In relationships, when the other person doesn’t fit into your model of how heaven would be, you don’t have to play God. You just have to love individual differences and appreciate them the way they are. Because love is the most powerful medicine.

The key is that you aren’t even doing it manipulatively: “I love you, now change.” You’re looking at another being, just the way they are, and saying, “Let me appreciate God’s perfection.” You lost the key? Great. You forgot to pick up the laundry? Right. If each of us is separate, and yet each of us is part of the whole, but we got lost a little bit into dualism and we’re finding our way back out, every time we’re in the presence of unconditional love, we remember. And when we remember, we open. And when we open, the light pours through us.

If you became a person who could love unconditionally, everyone you love would flower before your very eyes. Every way you look would be light. That’s one of the fringe benefits of this method. It’s breathtaking. At every level.

my ultimate aspiration in this life - to be one who loves unselfishly.

today's thought

2011-07-30T17:55:00.004-04:00

"When we see the Beloved in each person, it's like walking through a garden, watching flowers bloom all around us." - Ram Dass

hi

2011-07-28T20:15:00.003-04:00

source

i wanted to post but didn't really have the energy to put one together so i'm going to keep it simple and say hi, i hope you're all having a wonderful day! xoxoxo

csa week seven

2011-07-26T19:06:00.000-04:00

muth family farm's organic csa week 7: swiss chard, cabbage, eggplant, sweet corn, kale, green onion, carrot, basil, green leaf lettuce, purslane, beets, eight-ball squash, patty pan squash, cucumber and a nice set of melons=)

tonight's dinner - super fresh and surprisingly filling

dessert: my 1st jersey peach of the summer

question: what local in-season goodies have you been enjoying?

today's smoothie and homemade green powder

2011-07-25T09:15:00.008-04:00

one of my most favorite summer green smoothies - purslane, kale, cucumber, pear, banana, blueberry and chia seeds.

come winter, we're really going to miss those fresh, local organic greens in our smoothies, so i'm preparing the next best thing - homemade green powder.

carmella introduced us to this brilliant concept last fall - simply wash and dehydrate your surplus of greens, then process into a fine powder.

store in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place. add one or more teaspoons to smoothies, juices or fruit roll-ups for a boost of green nutrition.

four excalibur dehydrator screens of kale yielded about 3/4 cup green powder. my goal is to fill at least two pint-sized jars before winter's sting. we shall see!

summer indian meal

2011-07-23T11:31:00.006-04:00

while searching online for a raw cabbage recipe, i stumbled upon this curried cabbage salad. indian food is fairly new to me, but i decided to go ahead and attempt a raw indian meal for dinner anyway.

Raw Vegan Curried Cabbage Salad
(serves 4-6)

Ingredients:
1 head green cabbage, chopped
1/3 cup shredded flaked coconut (be sure it's raw, if needed)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup cold-pressed olive oil
1/4 cup soy sauce (if raw, use Nama Shoyu)
3 tbsp sesame seeds
1/3 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp curry
1/2 tsp cumin

Preparation:

In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients, making sure cabbage is evenly coated. If possible, chill for at least an hour and toss thoroughly again before serving. This will allow all the flavors to mingle and blend.

Note:

For the soy sauce portion I used two tablespoons of Bragg's Liquid Aminos and two tablespoons of water. The sesame seeds I used were roasted and therefore not raw.

savoy, my favorite cabbage

the cabbage salad was nicely balanced and incredibly flavorsome. the longer it sat, the more intense the flavors became. however, it lacked color.

delicious but blah-looking

so i added a carrot from the garden, spiralized.

cosmic purple carrot - orange on the inside - cool, but not as cool as the solid purple carrot i had anticipated

muuuch better=)

further online searching led me to a yellow squash curry recipe. with intentions not to turn the stove on, i made a dressing to coat raw patty pan and eight ball-squash (using angela's eggplant caponata for inspiration).

raw curried yellow squash
serves 2-4

ingredients

about 2 C yellow squash, chopped

dressing:
1/4 C packed diced tomato
1 sun-dried tomato
1 medjool date
3 T olive oil
1 T apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp red curry powder
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1/8 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp turmeric
pinch nutmeg
pinch cinnamon

fresh cilantro, to garnish
salt and black pepper, to taste

preparation

blend dressing ingredients until smooth. toss with chopped squash and garnish with cilantro. for best flavor, allow squash to marinate a few hours or overnight.

sweet yet sophisticated. and super yummy.=)

this raw corn chowder? not so yummy. tired of recipes, i made the decision to just wing it. it had such a bitter taste, we couldn't even eat it.

ah well, you know what meatloaf says...

two out of three ain't bad.=)

(had i known in advance, i may have tried to make raw samosas with coconut wrappers and mango chutney. can i get a YUM?!)

mornings with madji

2011-07-22T11:11:00.009-04:00

3-5 am: the nose taps begin. at first they're gentle. "hi, i'm hungry." they quickly turn nasty. "i'll drag you outta this g.d. bed if i have to!" mind you, it's been about 2 or 3 hours since she last ate. if i'm feeling nice, i get up and feed her. tired - covers go over the head.

5-6 am: if she's had breakfast and post-meal coconut oil, she goes back to sleep. for a bit. if not, everything gets knocked off the nightstand, which then becomes her bed.

6-7 am: regardless if she was fed between 3-5 or not, she's up, doing the nose tapping again. did i mention she hooks her claw in my nostril and pulls?

7-8 am: usually i cave and get up with her. for a teeny tiny second i'm annoyed... until i look at her sweet little face, eyes all wide and innocent.

"oh, did i wake you?"

what happens at the grove, stays at the grove

2011-07-21T15:25:00.001-04:00

"It's nestled among the Redwoods of California - 2,700 acres of pristine land broken down into dozens of camps. And for two weeks every July since the 1880s, they have been filled with some of the most wealthy and powerful men in the world. RT's Kristine Frazao takes a closer look at Bohemian Grove 2011."

oh, i'm sure it's just the world's elite meeting for some r&r with the boys... don't be such a conspiracy nut...

blueberry zucchini bread

2011-07-20T09:43:00.008-04:00

two summer gems baked into one moist and delicious treat!

blueberry zucchini bread
adapted from allrecipes

ingredients

3 C flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 T cinnamon
3 pastured eggs
1/2 C coconut oil
1/2 C applesauce (unsweetened)
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
1 T vanilla extract
2-3 C grated zucchini
1 pint blueberries

method

• grease and flour pans*, and preheat oven to 350°.

• sift flour, salt, baking soda, powder and cinnamon in a bowl.

• beat eggs, oil, applesauce, sugar and vanilla together in another bowl.

• add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture and beat until mixed.

• fold in zucchini and mix well. gently fold in blueberries.

• pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 50 to 70 minutes or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

* this recipe made one 8x4 loaf and 12 cupcakes. the cupcakes were done in about 25 minutes. you could also make 2 8x4 loaves or 4 mini loaves.

csa week six

2011-07-18T20:51:00.001-04:00

muth family farm's organic csa week 6: savoy cabbage, eggplant, sweet corn, green beans, dinosaur kale, green onion, basil, green leaf lettuce, purslane, beets, eight-ball squash, patty pan squash, cucumber, zucchini and heirloom tomatoes

blueberry season is winding down here so i purchased a case of 12 pints from little buck organics (which yields about 24 cups of blue gems!) we already ate a pint and i froze about two-thirds of the case. john rattled off a list of what he'd like me to make. don't hold your breath, buddy.=)

this is one of the two trays that were frozen.

there's a great little produce market about a mile from muth farm. i love to stop there and peruse their dollar discount section.

sometimes i find ripe bananas, which i freeze immediately for smoothies and banana soft serve. most of the produce is conventional, though today i made the best find yet...

organic d'anjou pears!

usually the fruit in this section is very iffy, but i couldn't find much wrong with these babies.

pears and blueberries taste great together, especially in smoothies and homemade fruit roll-ups.

to go with a dinner salad i made a double batch of blueberry vinaigrette. this time i used coconut oil and balsamic vinegar, and it solidified in the fridge. next time i'll try olive oil and balsamic vinegar - i think that'll be the winning combination!

my green buns

2011-07-17T15:33:00.001-04:00

raw collard and other leafy greens make a nutritiously yummy veggie patty bun...

zucchini crab cake

mock chicken patty

carmella's hemp burger

leaving lots more room for summer desserts!=)

random reflections

2011-07-15T14:34:00.009-04:00

happy friday! i had to ask three times what day it was. when you don't have a set work schedule, the days blend together. no more longing for the weekend. it's grand.

miss madj woke me up with a claw up my nose. a very sharp one. john woke up with two scratches on his nose. she literally demanded four breakfasts. piggy.=)

our meals have been pretty simple lately. much of my energy has gone to gardening and preserving. i'm slowly learning the ways of preserving and what works for our small family of two. after years of consideration, i finally purchased a mini food saver. (well, my mom bought it for me as a bday gift.) before, i had the silly notion that preserving was only for an abundance of produce. now i've been blanching and freezing anything i think we won't eat soon. here's what's in the freezer so far:

3 bags of diced zucchini for making pizza crusts, 3 bags of grated zucchini for zucchini bread and 2 bags for zucchini brownies, 5 bags of sliced zucchini for stir-fries, veggie tacos or side dishes, 3 bags green beans, veggie burgers and zucchini crab cakes.

through craigslist i purchased 120 used canning jars for 65 bucks. she asked for 80, i said 50, and we met in the middle. it was a big chunk of change but now i won't have to buy jars for a really long time. but i didn't consider that i'd need to buy lids. preserving aint always cheap, but it's worth it.

one of the pretty lids

the jars were filthy (so much for "excellent condition") so i scrubbed them out on our deck. three hours, two pruny hands, two blisters and one sunburn later, they were good as new.

while scrubbing, i noticed that brillo pads have the pleasant scent of an older gentleman's cologne. speaking of older *ahem* gentlemen, i was thankful my nosy (but sweet) neighbor wasn't home. he looks at me like i have 8 heads whenever i'm working outside. everyday he asks, "you working?" meaning do you have a "real job" yet? i want to say of course i'm working - i'm growing my own food here! but i just smile and say, "not yet, jimmy." he seems to think gardening is crazy and when i told him i don't eat much meat i thought he was going to throw a shoe at me! he likes that i listen to his fishing adventures which i guess is why he hangs around me. one day i caught the snoop in my compost bin! "looking for something, jimmy?"=)

we are having perfect summer weather - hot but a little breezy with low humidity. we've turned our air conditioner off and the house hasn't gotten warmer than a comfortable 78°. i just love sleeping with the windows open.

fall planting has gotten underway and we have some cabbage, collard and broccoli sprouts. yesterday i planted kale and escarole, and today i'm sowing carrots in the garden (if i'm not too sore).

source

last night i took a yoga class for the first time in a year. i really enjoy yoga but can't afford the membership fees, so i was very excited when i found a studio that offers discounted drop-in classes. at first i started yoga to gain more flexibility. i'll never forget my high school gym teacher saying to me, "if you're this unflexible now, imagine what you'll feel like as an old lady!" that was a huge wake-up call and ever since i've had the intention of taking good care of this vehicle into old age.

what i wasn't expecting from yoga was the philosophy/spirituality - guidance on being present, shedding fear, expanding into the moment, accepting everything as it is. last night i was pleasantly surprised when the instructor read part of the preamble to the declaration of independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

she went on to say true freedom is the state of being ok with what is. in that aspect, no one can take our freedom away. many of you are probably like, "what? you live in america, land of the free, who'd take your freedom away?" well, when you live in a country where you could go to jail for growing food on your own front lawn or for having unlicensed pets, you begin to see you're not as free as you think.

now, i understand people are seriously oppressed in other parts of the world, and i don't take my liberties for granted. yoga and meditation are helping me see everything for what it is and i'm so very thankful for the peace of mind i find in remembering that this is just an experience, fear is merely an illusion, and infinite love/oneness is the only truth.

did you really make it through this post?!=) thank you for reading. hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

2011-07-14T09:50:00.000-04:00

Sweetness is a virtue that searches with patience for the good in every person and situation. - peace village

zucchini bread recipe

2011-07-13T17:44:00.005-04:00

yields 2 loaves

ingredients

3 C unbleached flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3 tsp ground cinnamon
3 pastured eggs
1/2 C coconut oil
1/2 C unsweetened apple sauce
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
3 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 C grated zucchini
1 C chopped walnuts (optional)

method

grease and flour two 8x4 inch pans. preheat oven to 350°.

sift flour, salt, baking soda, powder and cinnamon in a bowl.

beat eggs, oil, applesauce, sugar and vanilla together in another bowl.

add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture and beat well.

fold in zucchini and walnuts. pour batter into prepared pans.

bake for 50 to 70 minutes or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

enjoy!=)

*recipe adapted from mom's zucchini bread with mommy from seattle's modifications

2011-07-12T20:31:00.000-04:00

today's harvest

2011-07-12T09:47:00.001-04:00

the foodsaver and i have a very busy day ahead of us...

csa week five

2011-07-12T07:12:00.000-04:00

muth family farm's organic csa week 5: sweet corn(!), green beans, amaranth, dinosaur kale, collards, green onion, basil, green leaf lettuce, purslane, chioggia beets, eight-ball squash, patty pan squash, cucumber, yellow squash, zucchini, heirloom cherry tomatoes and blueberries from little buck organics ($2.75/pint)

we got the beets

2011-07-11T14:57:00.003-04:00

80's girl band anyone?

last year i made tasty pickled beets but they were nothing like these.

this time i used pickling spice.

homemade pickling spice
(modified from ball's recipe)

makes about 1/2 cup

1 cinnamon stick broken into pieces
5 bay leaves, crushed
2 T mustard seeds
1 T coriander seeds
1 T whole black peppercorns
1 T dill seeds
1-2 tsp hot pepper flakes
1 tsp whole cloves
pinch cardamom
1/2 tsp grated ginger root

mix and store in an airtight container.

my chioggia beets were pickled following this recipe. since i had such a small amount, i didn't bother to can - just stored them in the fridge. the jar was made for my beet-loving mother, but i can't seem to keep my fingers out of it. sorry mom! the next batch will be better - i'll even take the skins off=)

sunday in photos

2011-07-10T20:35:00.000-04:00

tofu stir-fry recipe

2011-07-10T11:30:00.003-04:00

it's not often we eat it, but when i come across a good sale on non-gmo tofu, it seems i can't pass it up. there was a time when i feared making it myself, but with some guidance from tofu extraordinaires, i've managed to contrive a rough recipe even john (the man who loves to hate tofu) enjoys.

tofu stir-fry with spinach and red bell pepper over lentils

(this recipe is "rough" because i don't measure the veggies or pay attention to cooking times or temps, nor was i taught how to make a proper stir-fry. somehow this dish always turns out yummy.=)

ingredients:

grain of choice
firm silken tofu (non-gmo)
veggies of choice
1/2 C bragg's liquid aminos, shoyu, tamari or soy sauce
3 T brown rice syrup
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp grated ginger root
green onion (optional)
oil for frying

method:

1. prepare grain (rice, quinoa, lentils...).

2. carefully pat tofu dry. slice into 1/4 inch thick pieces and fry in oil until golden brown on both sides. (be careful - the oil splashes!)

3. remove tofu from pan and add bragg's, brown rice syrup, minced garlic and ginger root. allow sauce to simmer a few minutes (if you'd like a thicker sauce, add a little arrowroot or cornstarch). add veggies and cook until slightly withered, being careful not to overcook them. alternatively, the veggies can be steamed.

4. plate your cooked grains, veggies, tofu and sauce. tastes great served immediately and even better as leftovers!

tofu stir-fry with kohlrabi, mizuna, amaranth greens and eight-ball squash over quinoa

note: when using bragg's, i find it a bit strong so i add a splash of water. if you don't have brown rice syrup, brown sugar or maple syrup may also work, though i haven't tried either. brown rice syrup is not as sweet, so i'd use less of another sweetener in its place, and add more if needed. the sauce recipe makes about 2-4 servings.

*the second photo was taken pre-sauce

green smoothie bliss

2011-07-08T17:36:00.003-04:00

purslane, cucumber, blueberries, pear, kiwi, chia seeds and kale

one frozen banana

blend with water and enjoy green smoothie bliss...

serves two.

cheers!

community "gourd"en

2011-07-07T13:11:00.001-04:00

the gourds have taken over and with no sign of melons... i'm hoping it's not too late. do ya think i could find someone crazy enough to trade their watermelon for my squash?=)

csa week four

2011-07-06T17:55:00.001-04:00

muth family farm's organic csa week 4: escarole, green leaf lettuce, curled kale, scallions, amaranth greens, curly endive, dill, mizuna, basil, chioggia beets, eight-ball squash, cucumbers, kohlrabi, yellow squash and zucchini (the red gladiolus was from a friend at the community garden.)

amaranth

kohlrabi

tofu stir-fry with kohlrabi, mizuna, amaranth greens and eight-ball squash over quinoa

zucchini muffins

the tofu stir-fry was absolutely yummy, though i burned my hand in the process. but... da-da-da-DA, plantain to the rescue! not only does it help my burny bladder (tmi?) it heals burnt and bug-bitten skin. did i mention it grows like a weed in my yard? and that it is a weed?=)

i hope to be back soon to show you what else i've been doing with the produce. (any ideas for curly endive or escarole besides soup?)

home garden update

2011-07-01T20:34:00.003-04:00

it's time to pull out the pea vines and bolted lettuce plants to make room for cucumbers, collards and cabbage. (i'm starting my fall garden now so i don't snooze on it like the last two seasons.)

the sugar snap and tall telephone peas surprised me with a really nice yield. i thought they were done when the hot weather hit early june, but they kept on producing. john and i enjoyed the sugar snaps right off the vine and dipped in olive oil or carmella's nacho cheeze.

sugar snap peas

tall telephone peas

in the box above there is kale, eggplant, carrots, beets and bush beans. i've spotted one royal burgundy bean so far.

the magic purple beans turn green when they are cooked - something to do with the acidity.

in this box we've got zucchini, melons and edamame. dill seeds were sown in the empty box.

this is my first year growing edamame and i'm in love with the little purple flowers.

potted plumeria, kale, cilantro

and ms. biggles

i'll end here with some shots of my furry gardening buddy and a wish for you all to have a safe and happy weekend!=)

fuzzy baby melons

2011-06-30T13:11:00.003-04:00

it seemed like my melon plants were lagging behind, but this week two little guys were spotted on the watermelon and canary melon vines.

these make me want to turn my yard into a farm!=)

growing garlic and herbs

2011-06-29T16:55:00.004-04:00

if i had known how effortless garlic was, i would have started growing it long ago.

on a whim last fall, i planted some grocery store cloves from the fridge. after reading now was the time to get those garlic bulbs in, i stuck 'em in the 2' by 2' box, and that was that. no fussing, pruning, staking or trellising. yes please.

the cloves sprouted before winter and grew very quickly come spring. eight out of nine made it, but two were very small. this fall i'll choose the largest cloves, and i'd like to plant many more.

the browning leaves are a sign it's time to harvest. mine were ready mid-june.

they were washed and set out to cure on our porch in the shade. it'll be a few weeks more before they are completely dry.

we sampled the two smallest bulbs and oh my, homegrown garlic is gooood.

growing my own has become quite an addiction. a few months ago i planted a piece of ginger root in a pot. today i noticed a little sprout - yippie!=)

in pots we also have cilantro, oregano...

basil, sage and dill. in the ground we've got spearmint, which comes back and spreads every year. it makes a very nice addition to our smoothies. oregano is also a perennial. we cut the tops off and dry them in a brown bag.

in a few weeks the leaves are crunchy enough to be crumbled and stored in a jar.

the rest of my herbs (basil, sage, dill, cilantro) were started from seed. basil seedlings give me such a hard time that i think i'll buy starters next year. if it's not the bugs eating them it's the sun scorching them...

csa week three

2011-06-27T19:55:00.004-04:00

muth family farm's organic csa week 3: curled kale, collards, mizuna, purslane, chioggia beets, romaine and green leaf lettuce, savoy cabbage, yellow squash, cucumbers, eight-ball squash, zucchini, and blueberries from a local organic farm

today i made a jar of sauerkraut with the cabbage and two beets. the zucchini are going to my friend - i'm told she makes a delicious salad with cannelini beans, lemon juice/zest and basil. fingers crossed the kale keeps 'til the weekend so i can make a big batch of cheesy chippies to bring to a bbq.

john requested vegan pancakes with the blueberries. i also plan to surprise him with zucchini brownies - he loves them and i didn't make him any last summer. better do it soon before it's way too hot to use the oven. (note: i sub coconut oil for the veg oil in both recipes and top our brownies with coconut flakes instead of the icing.)

i'm really looking forward to a nice big salad with fresh cucumber and blueberry vinaigrette and recreating last season's smoothie with honeydew melon.

salad with john's blueberry vinaigrette

smoothie prep: pear, collard greens, lemon, banana, bloobs, canary melon, purslane and cucumber with ice cubes - one of my favorites!

green pear-tini

smoothie-sippin' in the summer... does it get any better?=)

community garden update

2011-06-26T14:36:00.006-04:00

the gourds

(watermelon, canary melon, cantaloupe, pumpkin, acorn, spaghetti and kabocha squash, and cucumber)

spaghetti squash?

not sure what these are - any guesses?

sunflower

below shows the garden less than three weeks ago!

june 8th

my thumb there shows how thick the sunflower stems have gotten.

those zucchinis were used to make "crab" cakes.

the gourds will soon take over the surrounding plots if i don't trim them. i'm very grateful for the fruitful season we've had thus far.

my thoughts and prayers go out to those afflicted with terrible weather conditions, especially those losing their homes and harvests to floods.

echinacea blooms

2011-06-23T14:22:00.001-04:00

csa week two

2011-06-20T20:41:00.001-04:00

muth family farm's organic csa week 2: swiss chard, fennel, curled kale, purslane, savoy cabbage, bok choy, lettuce, scallions, eight-ball squash and zucchini

for lunch i made a smoothie with purslane. purslane contains more omega-3's than any other leafy vegetable plant. i like the flavor it adds to my smoothies and it's something different from the usual greens.

with the savoy cabbage, or curly cabbage as i like to call it, i whipped up philip mccluskey's simple herb cole slaw. usually i make it with basil and cilantro but this time i tried my homegrown garlic, dill and caraway seeds.

i'm about ankle-deep in zucchini - not quite knee-deep or up-to-my-elbows - yet! last week i made fried "zucchini parmesan-less' and pizza with zucchini sliced length-wise as the base. both were scrumptious.

zucchini pizza with walnut "sausage"

following a suggestion from my blogging buddy kt, i tried raw squash blossoms stuffed with my cashew cheese. though they were very tasty, i don't think i'll be making them again. there were too many ants and ladybugs living in the blossoms that had to be relocated, so i'll stick to just eating the fruit.=)

for dinner i decided to make a veggie burger with zucchini, similar to "beet this burger". zucchini took the place of the cooked oats. it was very good, though there was quite a bit of chopping and shredding. the recipe was doubled to make eight patties, and six were frozen for three other meals, which made the labor worth it.=)

pre-cooked patty

looks a little like raw meat, doesn't it?!

csa week one

2011-06-13T20:48:00.001-04:00

my beloved nikon coolpix was left behind at my mom's house, so i had to resort to the cell phone for capturing today's highlights.

muth mondays have arrived! *happy dance*

muth family farm's organic csa week 1: curled kale, basil, zucchini, collards, scallions, swiss chard, romaine lettuce, pak choi, parsley, and baby beet greens

a view of the farm from the parking lot

extra-green smoothies with banana, apple, peach, lemon, collard and chard

(due to the IC, i have to watch my intake of fruits, hence the little guy)

dinner tonight/lunch tomorrow: pak choi, zucchini, bell peppers, mushies, and garden pea stir-fry with quinoa

squash plants at the community garden

miss madji coming out her cat cave to ask, "you gonna feed me or what?"

today's blossoms and harvest

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first zucchini and canary melon blooms of the season=)

mustard greens and kale

lettuce, peas and purple plum radish

today's lunch: mustard greens, kale, and kidney beans in a curry cream sauce

on the menu for tonight: garden salad and veggie burritos