I eat so much hummus. Everyday, all day. Homemade, store bought. If there is hummus, I will be consuming it. But the thing is, I usually don%u2019t eat more then a little at a time. (A little being like 1/2 a cup). And sure, sometimes that is just fine and enough, but other times, what I really want to do is garb a spoon and a bag of carrots and eat it all. And then I do.
But there is that little voice in the back of my head telling me that if someone where to catch me eating mounds of hummus, they would liken my eating behavior to that of someone eating a jar of mustard (Not going to lie, it happens sometimes) or of a bottle of ketchup (but I don%u2019t eat ketchup) and that have a problem and shouldn%u2019t being eating it like that. Because hummus, for some reason, has been put into the condiment category. It%u2019s treated like a dip or a spread and that is fine and dandy to eat it as such, but hummus is so much more. It can, and should be treated more like a main component to a dish. So let us step outside of that box and eat it how we really want to eat it.
Hummus by the bowlful. I know right! It just makes so much sense to me. And now to you too. We need to stop stopping ourselves from just a scoop or two because really, that is just not enough. Nope, this is for real. A bowl, full of hummus, topped with roasted veggies because that is just more deliciousness. And we get to eat it all.
Life can be pretty great sometime, you know. HA
Now to the bowl of hummus!
The stuff. We got chickpeas, tahini, a lemon, red wine vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. And Veggies. Brussel Sprouts, broccoli, onion, Swiss chard, and kale.
Chop up the broccoli, the onion and half or quarter the Brussel sprouts. And separately, chop up the kale and chard.
Toss the chopped Brussels, broccoli and onion into a baking sheet or oven safe skillet and season with salt and pepper. IF you want to toss in a little oil, go for it. Then pop the veggies into a hot oven to roast away.
Once the veggies are just about done to your liking, grab the chopped kale and chard and off to the veggies. Toss and roast for a few more minutes.
Hummus. Chickpeas with liquid, garlic, tahini, juice of lemon, and blend. Creamy smooth and delicious.
Dump that hummus into bowls.
And top with roasted veggies.
Would you look at that. Now all you need to to is dig in. Serve with extra lemon and black pepper. Grab your utensil of choice and eat.
-C
makes 2 servings if eating as a meal
3 cups cooked chickpeas in liquid
A lemon
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2-3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup tahini
salt and pepper
10 or so Brussel sprouts
A small head of broccoli
A small onion
5-6 kale and or Swiss chard leaves
Note. Use whatever veggies you want. Fresh or already prepared. All and any leftovers would be great.
Preheat oven to 450.
Cut Brussel sprouts in half, chop the onion into small pieces, and cut up the broccoli and toss onto a baking sheet or an oven safe skillet. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and stick into the oven to roast for about 20 ish minutes or until nice and roasted. Feel free to toss the veggies in a little oil if you want. Chop up the kale and chard into smaller pieces. Once veggies are just a few minutes from being cooked to you liking, remove from oven, and toss in the greens. Cook for another 5 or so minutes until those are nice and wilted. Remove veggies from oven.
While veggies are roasting, make hummus. Place chick peas with liquid, the juice of the lemon, vinegar, garlic, and tahini into a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking. Dump into a bowls.
And when you have hummus make and veggies roasted, its time to compile. Dump the hummus into 2 bowls. Dump half of the roasted veggies into each bowl.. Squeeze more lemon juice onto both then grab a fork.
Eat. And yes, lick bowl clean. No shame.
Are you aware that it is the last week of November? I know right. Every year this happens but seriously, it%u2019s just flying by so fast.
The mr and I did the norms for the week. Went for a amazing hike in nice snow. We worked on work, the mr made paper, I cut up the paper. I spent some time with clay, works the studio, organized some stuff and watched it snow and loved every bit of it. Then it rained and got kind of sad that all the snow melted.%u2639%ufe0f We picked up farm share, had dinner with my mom and Paul, hung out with the littles for a bit, and fed Barb some soup. Nothing terribly exciting, besides feeding Barb. She makes every exciting.
And then we get to Saturday. Family thanksgiving plus is was Erin%u2019s birthday. (Happy Birthday Beotch!) Always crazy, what with every one of my family members together in my house, eating food, and hopped up on booze and sugar. The day started early with me running away to the gym to get in some sane time, then one last stop at the grocery store before heading home to finish baking and getting all the food ready. Barb came over early to help cut up veggies but really, for her and the mr to make fun of me and gossip like little old ladies. So food got prepare, then I cooked it all. (Minus the main which mom made. She made a crazy chicken thing, cooked in her oven, and brought it over. No meat gets cooked in my house.) And then the family descended on the house, hungry and crazy. Food got served/ thrown all over and for a few short minutes, everyone was sitting down all at once together. But that lasted 2 seconds, and the kids went off and I ran back to the kitchen while everyone was eating to straighten up a bit and because I don%u2019t need to see people dropping chicken bits all over. I just let them eat in peace while I hid for a few minutes in the pantry and snacked on roast Brussel sprouts, carrots and mustard.
After everyone ate, we all ran around the house, picked secret Santa names, had a massive dance party in the kitchen and did dessert and birthday cake. Erins birthday yes, but Coco got to blow out the candles. So cute, that little loving the candles and all but I am going to be watching out for him. I think he might turn into a little pyromaniac. HAHAHA. But for real. Dinner ended with everyone leaving except Barb, Megan,and So. We picked up a little but basically just sat in the pantry eating raw Brussel sprouts from the stock, with mustard of course, and talking about boys. Then they left too and the mr and I were left alone to assess the damages.
The house. Oh my, oh my. It is a FUCKING DISATSER! I know I tell you all that I spend a good chunk of time every weekend cleaning%u2026Well this time, today, all Sunday, I%u2019m a be cleaning. Cleaning the cake and ice cream and cookies crumbles all over. Cleaning up the dinner rolls behind the couch, all the ripped paper, smashed potates, food and drinks particles. Chicken bits, which everyone was super awesome about and tried not to get anywhere, are everywhere. All. Over. The house. Then the kitchen. Every single piece of silverware and then some plus at least 40 plates and bowls are waiting for cleaning. Not to mention the the pots and pans. The compost is overflowing. The recycling is a mess, and I have at least 2 laundry loads of rags and napkins and dirty towels to do. The fridge looks like a freaking bomb blew up in it with tons of half lidded containers precariously stacked on top of each other, waiting for just the right movement of the neighboring jar or the movement of the hot sauce to have it all come crashing down. Aye ya ya. But all worth it because I love my family and we had a blast. I just need to remember next time I am at one of their houses to like pee on their toilet seat or mash some frosting into their couch cushions, you know, to be fair and all.
Anyway, so today I clean and maybe try to hang up some Christmas decorations? The mr is off to do very nice things for people that might not appreciate it, but do it he is going to do (he is too good a person). Hopefully by the time he comes home later tonight, I will be done cleaning, he will be done helping for a good long while, and we can eat soup and maybe watch a movie together. Or more realistically, he watches a movie while I read and probably fall asleep on the couch. Real life.
Reads I read from the internet this week.
-A long but good read. RuPaul: The Philosopher Queen. who doesn%u2019t love RuPsul?
-I just pulled out a nice tablecloth, covered in stains mind you, but maybe i%u2019ll be able to get some of them out now. A Cheat Sheet to Get Rid of Every Type of Holiday%u00a0Stain. Or not. I don%u2019t think I care enough. HA
-This is so appealing to me especially since the mr loves his heavy comforter and I just want a light blanket with the window thrown open in 20 degree weather. The Scandinavian Sleep Secret: Mine and Yours Duvets. HE is always covering me up at night.
–The best health foods? Soup, garlic and cake. Food is healing, and if cake makes you feel better, well then cake it be.
-These cakes remind me of my 5ht grade volcano science project. I made it out of cake and whipped cream. It was awesome. Antarctic Research Takes The Cake In These Science-Inspired Confections
–Vegan man sues Burger King claiming meatless burger is cooked on same grill as meat. This is one reason I do not eat out. Oe of the last times I did eat out, there were egg shells in my scamp bled vegan tofu dish%u2026.. So yeah.
-Who doesn%u2019t love a good TV tray? A Brief History of the TV Tray
-HAve you ever raised a adolescent dog%u2026 It is crazy to say the least. Animal adolescence is filled with teen drama and peer pressure
-So there is this ti look forward to. Cockroaches Are Evolving And in the Future They can Become Impossible To Kill
–A Brief and Buttery History of Libby%u2019s Pumpkin Pie Recipe. The pie of my childhood.
And pictures from the week.
What%u2019s up with dinner rolls? Do people eat them all year round, like on a Tuesday in the middle of March or maybe a nice blue sky sunny day in July? Is that a weird question? But seriously, think about it. Dinner rolls, at least in my world of people, are pretty much only eaten in and around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Huh. Kind of strange seeing that dinner rolls are bread which everyone eats all the time and are basically made specifically for dinner (although can and should be eaten for breakfast and lunch as well) which most people eat. Every. Single. Day. Well, whatever the reason, it%u2019s weird. So yes, I am making these here dinner rolls now at the traditional holiday time but I think as of now, I am going to start making them all the time. It%u2019s going to be my new thing. Fourth of July dinner rolls. Yup.
And so yes, we need dinner rolls right now for the holiday food feasts and these dinner rolls are the perfect accompaniment to any and all dinners. They are nice and fluffy and all dinner roll like, just as any good roll should be, but also slightly more nutty and soft and healthy because oats and wheat flour and homemade which is always the best.
And if you are like, hell yes I am a dinner roll person and hell no I am sticking to store bought cause that is that and how it%u2019s done, well hey, no judgment here. I made these for my people for our family Thanksgiving, (which is happening today at my house. There are going be so many people) and I know that everyone will love and be happy to eat them, but I too also bought some of those super white, take and bake ones that I know if I don%u2019t have on the table next to these gorgeous and amazing rolls, that I will probably get punched in the face. So we will have both. And then at dinner I can bask in the glory of all the comments about how much better my rolls are then the store bought ones. (Secretly why I am having both. Fishing for compliments. HAHA!)
Now to those soft and fluffy dinner rolls!
The stuff. Old fashion oats, all purpose and white whole wheat flour, yeast, oil, water (hot and room temperature), maple syrup, and salt.
First, take the boiling water and pour it over the oats. Mix them and let them soak and cool for 10 or so minutes.
While oats are soaking, add the room temp water to a big bowl with the yeast. Once the oats are soft and cooled off a bit, add them to the yeast mixture along with the oil, and maple. Mix together. The add the flours and mix until combined.
Dump dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 3-5 minutes, adding a little more four as needed to keep from being to sticky, but don%u2019t over flour. The dough is and should be a little tacky.
Soft and supple. Kneaded and ready.
Place the dough back into the bowl and cover with a damp towel. Leave alone and let rise for about an hour or until it doubles in size.
Once the dough doubles, dump out onto a lightly floured surface and cut into 12-16 equal sized pieces .
Roll each roll into a roll shape and place them in a lightly greased baking dish. Cover for another 15-20 minutes to let rest and rise a little more.
Rolls risen again, just a little plumper. And now right before you place them in the oven, brush tops with a maple/water mixture and sprinkle with a few oats. To look pretty. And into the oven they go, 30ish minutes, until nice and golden brown.
Baked to golden dinner roll perfection.
And there you have it. Soft and fluffy dinner rolls. Warm out of the oven, looking and smelling like all the good things that you want and need.
And can, and should, be made now and all year round.
-C
makes 12-16 rolls
1 1/2 cups old fashion oats
2 cups all purpose flour plus more for kneading
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 cups boiling water
1 cup room tempature water plus 2 tablespoons for brushing tops
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons maple or honey
2 teaspoons yeast
1/4 cup neutral oil
In a bowl, mix oats with boil water and let sit and soak for about 10 minutes. In the meantime, in a large bowl, mix the room temp water with the yeast and 1 tablespoon of maple and mix. Once oats have soaked and cooled to a point that they are not super hot, but still just warm, mix them in with the yeast mixture. Add the salt and oil and mix then and both the white and white wheat flour. Mix until combined. The dough is going to be sticky, but that how is should be. Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3-5 minutes, adding a little flour as needed to keep from sticking too much, until dough is nice and uniformed in texture. Place dough back into big bowl (after you clean it out and lily oil it) and cover with a damp towel. Place somewhere warm for about an hour until it doubles in size.
Once dough has doubled, dump out onto a lightly floured surface and with a knife of dough cutter, cut into 12- 16 equal sized pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, pinching any ends together and place them into a 9×13 inch baking pan. Once all pieces are in, over and let rest for another 15 minutes.
While dough is resting again, preheat oven to 350.
After the dough has rested, and right before you place them in the oven, mix 1tablespoon of maple with about 2 tablespoons warm water and brush the tops of the rolls. Sprinkle with a handful of oats and then place them into the oven to bake. 30-35 minutes, until they are a nice golden brown.
Once baked remove from oven and let cool to a reasonable temperature and serve.
These can certainly be made a few days ahead of time of eating. Just remove baked rolls from pan and let cool completely then place the into an airtight bag. To reheat, just place on a baking sheet and stick in a hot oven until warm.
We got SNOW!!! I was, and am, so happy for it. And sure, it might seem a little early to some (to most is what I am hearing%u2026 People, you can%u2019t change the weather so you might as well embrace it!) but not too early for me. It is just about the right time and I love it. Cold temperatures and all.
The week went by fast but it was good. Got the winter tires changed just in the nick of time (big thanks to Justin and Sophia whom I now owe some cookies), watched the sky open and snow down the snow, hung out with Sophia and made snowflakes because we wanted to, then went to a happy birthday dinner for Shannon (please stop getting old, it makes me get old too!). We also went to Erin%u2019s house to make more snowflakes while the mr made spaghetti for the older littles and Coco made his own peanut butter sandwich and drank milk from the container like a gagster. Real life there. I also worked the studio, made phone calls, did paperwork (all in my sweat pants), and went a little crazy all the while the mr worked the streets, took meetings, and did the things that he does. A week as any week, although we are getting so close to the holidays and I%u2019ve noticed that Christmas decorations are going up all over the neighborhood. I think that I might just have to throw the outside lights up soon over here and get the bits of Christmasy things I stick up around the house close so when the mood strikes, out they go. As for the Christmas music, the one cd that has ever been in the CD player in the car is still in there (Hanson Christmas) waiting for that right time, and I am not going to lie, I have listensed to Sufjan Stevens Christmas a few times already. I CANT HELP IT! It is Sufjan and so it is ok. (Listen for yourself and tell me it%u2019s not ok%u2026 you can%u2019t. It is too good.)
Sunday again. So fast these weeks are flying by. Next weekend is family Thanksgiving at my house (24-28 people%u2026 oh boy oh boy!) and then real Thanksgiving. Then its birthdays galore and Christmas, and New Years and holy shit, the time is just spiraling. I need to get a grip on things before it all goes crazy. So today we are going to go for a hike but then I am coming home to work in my studio for a little bit then I am going to make some lists to get ready for the next month. And then go to bed early. I haven%u2019t been sleeping very well and I am already butt ass tired. Reading. I need to stop staying up all night reading. (But do I really?)
Here is where I went on the internet this week.
–Yes, Your Joints Do Hurt More When It’s Cold Out%u2014Here%u2019s Why. Yup, but my shit hurts in the summer too so whatever. Cold forever!
-Are you into pink? I very much enjoy it. The Surprising History of Pink: How the Rosy Hue Has Taken Over Interiors
–Wild boar sniff out and destroy stash of cocaine worth %u00a317,000 in Italy. So maybe don%u2019t bury cocaine in a hillside or anywhere for that matter.
-Please come back in stock, I need (want) them. Weck 1 1/2 Liter Cylindrical Jar
-I like the graphics. Gorgeous Infographics Show How Kitchen Appliances Have Evolved Over the Past 100 Years
–Watch This 9-Year-Old Girl Drum Her Heart Out To Nirvana’s ‘In Bloom’ BADASS.
-Doing this. HAHAHA. How to Make a Paper Bag Turkey
–Your stretching intestine is what tells your brain to stop eating. I think mine intestines are broken. I could eat all day.
-Truth be told. The Role of the Artist in the Age of Trump.
-I like to take pictures of fungus too. Spectacular Mushrooms and Fungi Documented by Photographer Alison Pollack
Now some pictures from the week.
Just the other day I was at the gym talking to someone when all of a sudden, she coughed into my face, like full fledge hacking. This and then she continued to tell me that she has been sick for like weeks and blah blah blah. After that all I was thinking was, Oh Fuck, she just gave me her ick%u2026.GET AWAY FAST!!!!
So it%u2019s that time of year. Everyone all sick and shit. And that means getting my stash of stuff made, my feel better, don%u2019t get sick stuff. The tonics and elixirs and hocus pocus things that I use all year long, but mostly during the winter months when everyone starts getting sick.
One of the things I make is fire cider. First off, let me tell you I am no doctor, just in case you thought I might be. But I l am a strong believer in food as medicine. So the fire cider is a heath tonic of sorts, made with all sorts of yummy and highly potent things like fresh grated horseradish, hot peppers, garlic, and so forth. All things that are good for your health in many ways, but also taste really good. And let me tell you, if you are into the healing powers or not, a swing of this infused cider tonic will surely open up your sinus cavity like whoa.
And now before you get super excited about going and making yourself this fantastic health tonic/salad dressing/drink mixer, and thinking it will be ready and done as soon as you do a little grating, well hold up. You can throw it together super fast, but it does take a good 4-6 weeks of chilling and infusing before you really want to get into it. But don%u2019t let that stop you, it is 100% worth all the waiting. And wouldn%u2019t you know, the holidays are about 4-6 weeks away and I was just thinking after I made a batch for myself how I should make another big batch and give away in little jars for Christmas this year. Now there is a good idea. (Might not be a doctor, but I sure am a smarty pants%u2026HAHAHA)
Now to the Fire cider!
Garlic, onion and hot peppers, chopped into bits. Place it all into a clean 32oz jar.
Grated horseradish, turmeric, and ginger. Into jar it goes. And watch out, freshly grated horseradish can be a little intense.
Sliced lemon. Into said jar along with thyme, oregano, and peppercorns.
Packed and filled with raw apple cider vinegar.
Now a lid and some time in a cool dark place and you got yourself some liquid gold.
Remember, I am not a doctor so yeah, but this cider helps me feel better when I need it to and I think you will find it will help you too. And it tastes freaking awesome on food so theres that!
-C
makes 16-20 oz
1/3 cup fresh grated horseradish
1/4 cup fresh grated ginger root
1/4 cup fresh grated tumeric
1 chopped onion
3-5 heads of garlic chopped
2%u20144 hot peppers (depending on the type you use and the heat level you want) chopped
1 lemon sliced
1 teaspoon peppercorns
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon thyme
Raw apple Cider Vinegar
Honey or maple syrup (optional)
Note. Feel free to change the amounts of all of the ingredients. Want to use less horseradish, then do so. No hot peppers, then don%u2019t add them. Leave out the oregano and thyme and add dill or rosemary. You can be creative with your own flavors.
Now to make fire cider.
Place all ingredients besides vinegar into a 32 oz jar. Pack down with a wooden spoon then fill jar with apple cider vinegar.(Make sure all the stuff is submerged in the vinegar.) Place a lid on jar. If using a metal lid, line top with wax paper first or just use a plastic lid if you have one. Place jar in a cool dark place for 4-6 weeks, giving it a shake every day.
After at least 4 weeks, remove lid of the jar, strain the liquid from the solids through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, squeezing out as much as the liquid as you can. You can discard the solids or make something tasty with them (saut%u00e9ed with potatoes?). Then taste the liquid. Add sweetener if you want, maybe a few tablespoons to start and go from there.
And thats it. Store the cider a lidded jar in a cool dark place. Or in the fridge if you want it cold.
To use, just take a swig when feeling crappy, stuffy, cold, or just want a tasty little pick me up. Or use as condiment on food, like in a salad or wherever.
Enjoy!
The heat is officially on in the house because well, it got kind of freezing out and also because we got some snow! So awesome and unexpected. Sure, it was only an inch and came at the exact wrong time making for a very sketchy driving situation, and also it froze all the chard in the garden I had left (I harvested it and just tossed it in the freezer for soups), but whatever. I was, and am just so happy to see it. I really do love this time of year, even if everyone else hates it.
The week started off slow. The extra hour was welcomed but also really kind of screwed with my body clock. I have been getting better throughout the week, but the first few days we changed the clock, I was waking up at like 3 am. Yes, I was going to bed at like 630, but when your tired, your tired. Anyway, besides being a little groggy, it was the usual as usual. Work stuff, getting ready for winter weather, dealing with the dealings. We had lunch with Megan, a spaghetti dinner with Judah, and I picked up the first winter farm share of the season. Lots of roots, greens, Brussels sprout, and peppers. All the best food a lady could ask for. I am also feeling like a queen with my new, permanent, gold crown in my mouth. And now I am officially sick of going to the dentist. Going to try really hard to not have to go back ever again, or at least 6 months when I am due for a clean.
Oh, and lets not forget how I busted out the new toilet brushes. Who doesn%u2019t love a fresh toilet brush? Highlight of the week. HA.
Today the mr and don%u2019t have much in the way of plans besides getting the winter tires thrown on the car and getting out of town for the afternoon for a hike. So I am going to the gym and dropping off the library books this morning, we will then deal with the car, and then off we will go, heading out to conquer a mountain. Or a small trail. I am fine with either. Just as long as we are outside.
Links from the internet for your reading and browsing enjoyment.
–Why You Should Find Time to Be Alone With Yourself. Alone time is the best. I cannot stress how important alone time for me is%u2026 I NEED IT!
-I didi%u2019t know how awesome and strong ginkgo trees were. Consider the ginkgo. These ancient trees survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.
-First, how is Emma Watson turning 30? Second, Yes lady. Did Emma Watson Just Coin the Next %u201cConscious Uncoupling%u201d?
-Why haven%u2019t I don%u2019t this yet? The Tangy-Sweet Pickled Fruit I Put on Absolutely%u00a0Everything
–Very Generous People Are Way Happier (and Have More Friend)
-Looking for new shoes is the worst. But I found some that are not exactly winter friendly, but maybe I can make them work? Teva%u00a0Voya Infinity Sandals.OR these appropriate footwear. I love them but jeez, I am not paying that much for a shoe.
-Give me roots, all the roots. Root, root, root for rutabaga, turnips and those other unappreciated vegetables
-This is me! %u2018It%u2019s cool to be cold%u2019: Confessions of frigid-weather fanatics
–The Cookie Sculptor. I think I need to spend more time sculpting cookies.
–Scrubbing Your House Of Bacteria Could Clear The Way For Fungus. I am a clean freak, but I don%u2019t use any chemicals whatsoever. Vinegar, water, vacuum. How that keeps the bad fungus away.
And pictures from the week.
Let us talk about how winter squash is like one of the best foods ever. Seriously. Hardy, creamy, rich, and full of the nutty, sweet flavors of all the good things. How anyone says they don%u2019t like winter squash is beyond me. I sometimes even feel like I put myself in danger of exploding when I am around enough cooked squash. I can eat and eat it until it%u2019s gone, which is fine if it%u2019s a serving or two, but when you roast up a 10 pound butternut, well, that is when the danger is real. I am getting better at holding back, but man, sometimes I just can’t (or don%u2019t want to?) help myself. ( You might also wonder why I cook 10 pounds of squash at a time. It%u2019s because I will eat it all in a few days and I might as well cook a bunch at once, for efficiency sake.)
Now the delicata squah. If you haven%u2019t had it before, stop what you are doing and go get one. You need to try it because it is amazing. Sweet, nutty, creamy. So good! And another good thing is that they are not giant, so you can buy one and eat the whole thing and not worry about overeating until you can%u2019t move, unless that is the goal. In that case, just buy a bunch. HA.
Anyway, it%u2019s getting to that time of year where salad is still great, it is just great warm. And with winter squash. Don%u2019t you agree? So we cook up the squash, grab the kale and make one heck of a salad to eat all to your face. Because that is what will happen. You will make it , taste it, and not want to share it. It is too good to share. (Yes salads can be too good to share, so if you are planning on feeding others, plan accordingly)
To the salad!
The stuff. Kale, a delicata squash, red onion, some balsamic vinegar, a touch of maple, spicy brown mustard, a handful of toasted seeds, and salt and pepper.
Start with the squash. Cut it in half and scoop seeds from booth sides (these seeds are great roasted). After deseeded, cut both pieces into 1/4-1/2 inch thick rounds. And NO!!!!, do not peel the skin.
Grab the onion and cut into 1/4 inch rounds too.
Place the squash on a very lightly oiled baking sheet so the pieces are not overlapping each other. Then toss on the onion which is fine if it overlaps. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and lots of cracked pepper and pop into a hot oven.
In the meantime, mix the dressing situation together. Mustard, maple, and balsamic in a jar, mix and done.
Chop the kale too. Into mouth sized pieces.
Once squash is cooked all nice and tender, remove pan from oven. Take all the kale and toss on top then take the dressing and drizzle it all over the kale. Pop the pan back into the oven for a minutes or two, just until the kale starts to ever so slightly wilt.
Pull the pan back out and give it a good toss.
Dump it all into a big bowl, toss in the toasted seeds, and call it. Now grab a fork and start eating.
-C
Can be a main dish for 1 or a side for a few
1 delicata squash
1 bunch of kale (around 3/4 pound)
1 smallish red onion
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 -2 teaspoons maple syrup (more for a slightly sweeter, maple-y flavor)
2 tablespoons brown or dijon mustard
1/4 cup toasted seeds of choice (I used pumpkin and sunflower)
Preheat oven to 400
Cut delicata squash in half and scoop out all the seeds (you can save seeds to toast up later if you want), then slice the squash into 1/4 – 1/2 inch thick rounds. Grab onion and cut into thin slices. Take onion and squash and place them onto a very lightly oiled baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Don%u2019t let the squash overlap, but it is fine for the onion to overlap the squash and itself. Pop the pan into the oven and bake until the squash starts to brown and is fork tender, which should take about 10-15 minutes.
In the meantime, chop kale into small mouth sized pieces and set aside. And mix the balsamic, mustard, and maple together to create the dressing.
Once the squash and onions are cooked, toss the kale onto the pan and drizzle the whole thing with the balsamic mixture. Toss it all around and pop pan back into oven for another minute or two, just to let kale get a touch wilted.
Remove pan from oven, dump everything from pan onto a plate, and toss in the toasted seeds.
Grab a fork. Eat.
I don%u2019t know what the hell I was just reamng about, but I woke up with Celine Dion %u201cThats the way it is%u201d stuck in my head. I am pretty sure I haven%u2019t heard that song in like 10 years so it had to have made it%u2019s way out of my deep, deep subconscious. What does it mean? And why won%u2019t it stop replaying in my awake head!
What a ear worm to have on a Sunday morning. I need to plug my headphones in and listen to something, anything. It%u2019s driving me nuts!
The past week involved our last camp of the year. We went to Little River State Park (the last place open) in the pouring rain and crazy wind and did our thing. Set up camp, hiked, made food. All drenched and loving every second of it, even the rm, who was fighting off a pretty crappy head cold. One thing that I did not love was that I was trying to dry out my soaking wet hiking boots a bit by the fire and ended up melting them. Yup, they actually melted, but lucky the mr brought extra shoes so those got me through the rest of the time. Anyway, so that was it, no more camping (due to the fact that it gets dark at 4 now and everything is closed for the season). And yes, I am sad about it. Until next year I guess, or until I convince the mr that winter camping is a good thing.
The rest of week involved me breaking and swallowing half of the second temporary crown. This time I did not bother going back for a third because my new permanent gold one goes in this week so I am just dealing for the time being. Then there was Halloween, which by hat time in the week, I was starting feel icky and sick, but still good enough for Barb to come over for dinner, watch me hand out a few handfuls of candy and walk the block in the rain. That storm was crazy with some freaky rain. The downpours were so intense at times that I though our house was going to wash away.
Not much else. I worked the studio and cut my hand open again. There was no farm share this week so I have had to go to the grocery store more then I would have liked. I cleaned the back porch off and backed away most of the summer stuff, and I found a few pairs of wool socks hiding in my closet. That was really nice. We didn%u2019t see the littles cause they were all busy being cool with their fiends and between the mr and I both feeling under the weather, we choose to not infect the masses. We thought it better to lay a little low because we are good, caring people. Ha.
Yesterday was an Ikea day. Paul and Barb both wanted to go, so go we did. Left early morning, got stuck in dumb stupid traffic, then got to Ikea just in time for everyone else in Montreal to get there too. I peed, they got hot dogs. They shopped, I shouted. I peed again, they checked out and loaded up on more hot dogs. And then home we went. Me and Barb basically sitting on top of each other because Paul bought a shelf that took up half the car but you know what, traffic did not suck, the boarder was fine, and all and all not a bad trip. Minus the smell of the hotdogs, it made me want to barf.
And then I came home, the mr ran to rescue one of our tenants, I made dinner, we went for a walk, then I went to bed. Still feeling off and was more then happy just to get underneath all the covers and sleep.
Today the mr and I are not camping, but we are going hiking, so there is that. And we plan on making soup for dinner and maybe%u2026maybe, turning the heat on tonight if we are feeling extra cold. But probably not. We might just wait til it snows.
Some links to look at from the internet.
–Is A Diet That’s Healthy For Us Also Better For The Planet? Most Of The Time, Yes. Get on board people.
-On the drive to Ikea, we got into the conversation of seltzer because it%u2019s always about seltzer. Is Seltzer Bad for You?
–This map shows how food travels from farms to your home. Some things really travel so far, it%u2019s kind of crazy. Let us all try to eat more local, yes?
–Why do people hate vegans? Why indeed.
-Keep your brain alive and healthy. 5 Daily Habits That Negatively Affect the Brain and Should Be Stopped Before the Damage Becomes Irreversible
–How Jane Fonda%u00a0Convinces Her Famous Friends to Get Arrested. I would get arrested with Jane Fonda. Hell, I Would do just about anything with Jane Fonda.
-Bulk all the way, but done right. The Problem With America%u2019s Bulk Food Bins
-Thank you Dutch science people for making the world embrace Brussel sprouts. From Culinary Dud To Stud: How Dutch Plant Breeders Built Our Brussels Sprouts Boom
-Yes please! MAKE MINE AN A-FRAME.
–I Tried the Wim Hof Method to Find Happiness Through Suffering%u00a0. I don%u2019t know, I could see this working for me. Huh.
THE LOVELY CRAZY
December 30, 2019 by maximios • Blog
I eat so much hummus. Everyday, all day. Homemade, store bought. If there is hummus, I will be consuming it. But the thing is, I usually don%u2019t eat more then a little at a time. (A little being like 1/2 a cup). And sure, sometimes that is just fine and enough, but other times, what I really want to do is garb a spoon and a bag of carrots and eat it all. And then I do.
But there is that little voice in the back of my head telling me that if someone where to catch me eating mounds of hummus, they would liken my eating behavior to that of someone eating a jar of mustard (Not going to lie, it happens sometimes) or of a bottle of ketchup (but I don%u2019t eat ketchup) and that have a problem and shouldn%u2019t being eating it like that. Because hummus, for some reason, has been put into the condiment category. It%u2019s treated like a dip or a spread and that is fine and dandy to eat it as such, but hummus is so much more. It can, and should be treated more like a main component to a dish. So let us step outside of that box and eat it how we really want to eat it.
Hummus by the bowlful. I know right! It just makes so much sense to me. And now to you too. We need to stop stopping ourselves from just a scoop or two because really, that is just not enough. Nope, this is for real. A bowl, full of hummus, topped with roasted veggies because that is just more deliciousness. And we get to eat it all.
Life can be pretty great sometime, you know. HA
Now to the bowl of hummus!
The stuff. We got chickpeas, tahini, a lemon, red wine vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. And Veggies. Brussel Sprouts, broccoli, onion, Swiss chard, and kale.
Chop up the broccoli, the onion and half or quarter the Brussel sprouts. And separately, chop up the kale and chard.
Toss the chopped Brussels, broccoli and onion into a baking sheet or oven safe skillet and season with salt and pepper. IF you want to toss in a little oil, go for it. Then pop the veggies into a hot oven to roast away.
Once the veggies are just about done to your liking, grab the chopped kale and chard and off to the veggies. Toss and roast for a few more minutes.
Hummus. Chickpeas with liquid, garlic, tahini, juice of lemon, and blend. Creamy smooth and delicious.
Dump that hummus into bowls.
And top with roasted veggies.
Would you look at that. Now all you need to to is dig in. Serve with extra lemon and black pepper. Grab your utensil of choice and eat.
-C
makes 2 servings if eating as a meal
3 cups cooked chickpeas in liquid
A lemon
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2-3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup tahini
salt and pepper
10 or so Brussel sprouts
A small head of broccoli
A small onion
5-6 kale and or Swiss chard leaves
Note. Use whatever veggies you want. Fresh or already prepared. All and any leftovers would be great.
Preheat oven to 450.
Cut Brussel sprouts in half, chop the onion into small pieces, and cut up the broccoli and toss onto a baking sheet or an oven safe skillet. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and stick into the oven to roast for about 20 ish minutes or until nice and roasted. Feel free to toss the veggies in a little oil if you want. Chop up the kale and chard into smaller pieces. Once veggies are just a few minutes from being cooked to you liking, remove from oven, and toss in the greens. Cook for another 5 or so minutes until those are nice and wilted. Remove veggies from oven.
While veggies are roasting, make hummus. Place chick peas with liquid, the juice of the lemon, vinegar, garlic, and tahini into a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking. Dump into a bowls.
And when you have hummus make and veggies roasted, its time to compile. Dump the hummus into 2 bowls. Dump half of the roasted veggies into each bowl.. Squeeze more lemon juice onto both then grab a fork.
Eat. And yes, lick bowl clean. No shame.
Are you aware that it is the last week of November? I know right. Every year this happens but seriously, it%u2019s just flying by so fast.
The mr and I did the norms for the week. Went for a amazing hike in nice snow. We worked on work, the mr made paper, I cut up the paper. I spent some time with clay, works the studio, organized some stuff and watched it snow and loved every bit of it. Then it rained and got kind of sad that all the snow melted.%u2639%ufe0f We picked up farm share, had dinner with my mom and Paul, hung out with the littles for a bit, and fed Barb some soup. Nothing terribly exciting, besides feeding Barb. She makes every exciting.
And then we get to Saturday. Family thanksgiving plus is was Erin%u2019s birthday. (Happy Birthday Beotch!) Always crazy, what with every one of my family members together in my house, eating food, and hopped up on booze and sugar. The day started early with me running away to the gym to get in some sane time, then one last stop at the grocery store before heading home to finish baking and getting all the food ready. Barb came over early to help cut up veggies but really, for her and the mr to make fun of me and gossip like little old ladies. So food got prepare, then I cooked it all. (Minus the main which mom made. She made a crazy chicken thing, cooked in her oven, and brought it over. No meat gets cooked in my house.) And then the family descended on the house, hungry and crazy. Food got served/ thrown all over and for a few short minutes, everyone was sitting down all at once together. But that lasted 2 seconds, and the kids went off and I ran back to the kitchen while everyone was eating to straighten up a bit and because I don%u2019t need to see people dropping chicken bits all over. I just let them eat in peace while I hid for a few minutes in the pantry and snacked on roast Brussel sprouts, carrots and mustard.
After everyone ate, we all ran around the house, picked secret Santa names, had a massive dance party in the kitchen and did dessert and birthday cake. Erins birthday yes, but Coco got to blow out the candles. So cute, that little loving the candles and all but I am going to be watching out for him. I think he might turn into a little pyromaniac. HAHAHA. But for real. Dinner ended with everyone leaving except Barb, Megan,and So. We picked up a little but basically just sat in the pantry eating raw Brussel sprouts from the stock, with mustard of course, and talking about boys. Then they left too and the mr and I were left alone to assess the damages.
The house. Oh my, oh my. It is a FUCKING DISATSER! I know I tell you all that I spend a good chunk of time every weekend cleaning%u2026Well this time, today, all Sunday, I%u2019m a be cleaning. Cleaning the cake and ice cream and cookies crumbles all over. Cleaning up the dinner rolls behind the couch, all the ripped paper, smashed potates, food and drinks particles. Chicken bits, which everyone was super awesome about and tried not to get anywhere, are everywhere. All. Over. The house. Then the kitchen. Every single piece of silverware and then some plus at least 40 plates and bowls are waiting for cleaning. Not to mention the the pots and pans. The compost is overflowing. The recycling is a mess, and I have at least 2 laundry loads of rags and napkins and dirty towels to do. The fridge looks like a freaking bomb blew up in it with tons of half lidded containers precariously stacked on top of each other, waiting for just the right movement of the neighboring jar or the movement of the hot sauce to have it all come crashing down. Aye ya ya. But all worth it because I love my family and we had a blast. I just need to remember next time I am at one of their houses to like pee on their toilet seat or mash some frosting into their couch cushions, you know, to be fair and all.
Anyway, so today I clean and maybe try to hang up some Christmas decorations? The mr is off to do very nice things for people that might not appreciate it, but do it he is going to do (he is too good a person). Hopefully by the time he comes home later tonight, I will be done cleaning, he will be done helping for a good long while, and we can eat soup and maybe watch a movie together. Or more realistically, he watches a movie while I read and probably fall asleep on the couch. Real life.
Reads I read from the internet this week.
-A long but good read. RuPaul: The Philosopher Queen. who doesn%u2019t love RuPsul?
-I just pulled out a nice tablecloth, covered in stains mind you, but maybe i%u2019ll be able to get some of them out now. A Cheat Sheet to Get Rid of Every Type of Holiday%u00a0Stain. Or not. I don%u2019t think I care enough. HA
-This is so appealing to me especially since the mr loves his heavy comforter and I just want a light blanket with the window thrown open in 20 degree weather. The Scandinavian Sleep Secret: Mine and Yours Duvets. HE is always covering me up at night.
–The best health foods? Soup, garlic and cake. Food is healing, and if cake makes you feel better, well then cake it be.
-These cakes remind me of my 5ht grade volcano science project. I made it out of cake and whipped cream. It was awesome. Antarctic Research Takes The Cake In These Science-Inspired Confections
–Vegan man sues Burger King claiming meatless burger is cooked on same grill as meat. This is one reason I do not eat out. Oe of the last times I did eat out, there were egg shells in my scamp bled vegan tofu dish%u2026.. So yeah.
-Who doesn%u2019t love a good TV tray? A Brief History of the TV Tray
-HAve you ever raised a adolescent dog%u2026 It is crazy to say the least. Animal adolescence is filled with teen drama and peer pressure
-So there is this ti look forward to. Cockroaches Are Evolving And in the Future They can Become Impossible To Kill
–A Brief and Buttery History of Libby%u2019s Pumpkin Pie Recipe. The pie of my childhood.
And pictures from the week.
What%u2019s up with dinner rolls? Do people eat them all year round, like on a Tuesday in the middle of March or maybe a nice blue sky sunny day in July? Is that a weird question? But seriously, think about it. Dinner rolls, at least in my world of people, are pretty much only eaten in and around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Huh. Kind of strange seeing that dinner rolls are bread which everyone eats all the time and are basically made specifically for dinner (although can and should be eaten for breakfast and lunch as well) which most people eat. Every. Single. Day. Well, whatever the reason, it%u2019s weird. So yes, I am making these here dinner rolls now at the traditional holiday time but I think as of now, I am going to start making them all the time. It%u2019s going to be my new thing. Fourth of July dinner rolls. Yup.
And so yes, we need dinner rolls right now for the holiday food feasts and these dinner rolls are the perfect accompaniment to any and all dinners. They are nice and fluffy and all dinner roll like, just as any good roll should be, but also slightly more nutty and soft and healthy because oats and wheat flour and homemade which is always the best.
And if you are like, hell yes I am a dinner roll person and hell no I am sticking to store bought cause that is that and how it%u2019s done, well hey, no judgment here. I made these for my people for our family Thanksgiving, (which is happening today at my house. There are going be so many people) and I know that everyone will love and be happy to eat them, but I too also bought some of those super white, take and bake ones that I know if I don%u2019t have on the table next to these gorgeous and amazing rolls, that I will probably get punched in the face. So we will have both. And then at dinner I can bask in the glory of all the comments about how much better my rolls are then the store bought ones. (Secretly why I am having both. Fishing for compliments. HAHA!)
Now to those soft and fluffy dinner rolls!
The stuff. Old fashion oats, all purpose and white whole wheat flour, yeast, oil, water (hot and room temperature), maple syrup, and salt.
First, take the boiling water and pour it over the oats. Mix them and let them soak and cool for 10 or so minutes.
While oats are soaking, add the room temp water to a big bowl with the yeast. Once the oats are soft and cooled off a bit, add them to the yeast mixture along with the oil, and maple. Mix together. The add the flours and mix until combined.
Dump dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 3-5 minutes, adding a little more four as needed to keep from being to sticky, but don%u2019t over flour. The dough is and should be a little tacky.
Soft and supple. Kneaded and ready.
Place the dough back into the bowl and cover with a damp towel. Leave alone and let rise for about an hour or until it doubles in size.
Once the dough doubles, dump out onto a lightly floured surface and cut into 12-16 equal sized pieces .
Roll each roll into a roll shape and place them in a lightly greased baking dish. Cover for another 15-20 minutes to let rest and rise a little more.
Rolls risen again, just a little plumper. And now right before you place them in the oven, brush tops with a maple/water mixture and sprinkle with a few oats. To look pretty. And into the oven they go, 30ish minutes, until nice and golden brown.
Baked to golden dinner roll perfection.
And there you have it. Soft and fluffy dinner rolls. Warm out of the oven, looking and smelling like all the good things that you want and need.
And can, and should, be made now and all year round.
-C
makes 12-16 rolls
1 1/2 cups old fashion oats
2 cups all purpose flour plus more for kneading
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 cups boiling water
1 cup room tempature water plus 2 tablespoons for brushing tops
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons maple or honey
2 teaspoons yeast
1/4 cup neutral oil
In a bowl, mix oats with boil water and let sit and soak for about 10 minutes. In the meantime, in a large bowl, mix the room temp water with the yeast and 1 tablespoon of maple and mix. Once oats have soaked and cooled to a point that they are not super hot, but still just warm, mix them in with the yeast mixture. Add the salt and oil and mix then and both the white and white wheat flour. Mix until combined. The dough is going to be sticky, but that how is should be. Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3-5 minutes, adding a little flour as needed to keep from sticking too much, until dough is nice and uniformed in texture. Place dough back into big bowl (after you clean it out and lily oil it) and cover with a damp towel. Place somewhere warm for about an hour until it doubles in size.
Once dough has doubled, dump out onto a lightly floured surface and with a knife of dough cutter, cut into 12- 16 equal sized pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, pinching any ends together and place them into a 9×13 inch baking pan. Once all pieces are in, over and let rest for another 15 minutes.
While dough is resting again, preheat oven to 350.
After the dough has rested, and right before you place them in the oven, mix 1tablespoon of maple with about 2 tablespoons warm water and brush the tops of the rolls. Sprinkle with a handful of oats and then place them into the oven to bake. 30-35 minutes, until they are a nice golden brown.
Once baked remove from oven and let cool to a reasonable temperature and serve.
These can certainly be made a few days ahead of time of eating. Just remove baked rolls from pan and let cool completely then place the into an airtight bag. To reheat, just place on a baking sheet and stick in a hot oven until warm.
We got SNOW!!! I was, and am, so happy for it. And sure, it might seem a little early to some (to most is what I am hearing%u2026 People, you can%u2019t change the weather so you might as well embrace it!) but not too early for me. It is just about the right time and I love it. Cold temperatures and all.
The week went by fast but it was good. Got the winter tires changed just in the nick of time (big thanks to Justin and Sophia whom I now owe some cookies), watched the sky open and snow down the snow, hung out with Sophia and made snowflakes because we wanted to, then went to a happy birthday dinner for Shannon (please stop getting old, it makes me get old too!). We also went to Erin%u2019s house to make more snowflakes while the mr made spaghetti for the older littles and Coco made his own peanut butter sandwich and drank milk from the container like a gagster. Real life there. I also worked the studio, made phone calls, did paperwork (all in my sweat pants), and went a little crazy all the while the mr worked the streets, took meetings, and did the things that he does. A week as any week, although we are getting so close to the holidays and I%u2019ve noticed that Christmas decorations are going up all over the neighborhood. I think that I might just have to throw the outside lights up soon over here and get the bits of Christmasy things I stick up around the house close so when the mood strikes, out they go. As for the Christmas music, the one cd that has ever been in the CD player in the car is still in there (Hanson Christmas) waiting for that right time, and I am not going to lie, I have listensed to Sufjan Stevens Christmas a few times already. I CANT HELP IT! It is Sufjan and so it is ok. (Listen for yourself and tell me it%u2019s not ok%u2026 you can%u2019t. It is too good.)
Sunday again. So fast these weeks are flying by. Next weekend is family Thanksgiving at my house (24-28 people%u2026 oh boy oh boy!) and then real Thanksgiving. Then its birthdays galore and Christmas, and New Years and holy shit, the time is just spiraling. I need to get a grip on things before it all goes crazy. So today we are going to go for a hike but then I am coming home to work in my studio for a little bit then I am going to make some lists to get ready for the next month. And then go to bed early. I haven%u2019t been sleeping very well and I am already butt ass tired. Reading. I need to stop staying up all night reading. (But do I really?)
Here is where I went on the internet this week.
–Yes, Your Joints Do Hurt More When It’s Cold Out%u2014Here%u2019s Why. Yup, but my shit hurts in the summer too so whatever. Cold forever!
-Are you into pink? I very much enjoy it. The Surprising History of Pink: How the Rosy Hue Has Taken Over Interiors
–Wild boar sniff out and destroy stash of cocaine worth %u00a317,000 in Italy. So maybe don%u2019t bury cocaine in a hillside or anywhere for that matter.
-Please come back in stock, I need (want) them. Weck 1 1/2 Liter Cylindrical Jar
-I like the graphics. Gorgeous Infographics Show How Kitchen Appliances Have Evolved Over the Past 100 Years
–Watch This 9-Year-Old Girl Drum Her Heart Out To Nirvana’s ‘In Bloom’ BADASS.
-Doing this. HAHAHA. How to Make a Paper Bag Turkey
–Your stretching intestine is what tells your brain to stop eating. I think mine intestines are broken. I could eat all day.
-Truth be told. The Role of the Artist in the Age of Trump.
-I like to take pictures of fungus too. Spectacular Mushrooms and Fungi Documented by Photographer Alison Pollack
Now some pictures from the week.
Just the other day I was at the gym talking to someone when all of a sudden, she coughed into my face, like full fledge hacking. This and then she continued to tell me that she has been sick for like weeks and blah blah blah. After that all I was thinking was, Oh Fuck, she just gave me her ick%u2026.GET AWAY FAST!!!!
So it%u2019s that time of year. Everyone all sick and shit. And that means getting my stash of stuff made, my feel better, don%u2019t get sick stuff. The tonics and elixirs and hocus pocus things that I use all year long, but mostly during the winter months when everyone starts getting sick.
One of the things I make is fire cider. First off, let me tell you I am no doctor, just in case you thought I might be. But I l am a strong believer in food as medicine. So the fire cider is a heath tonic of sorts, made with all sorts of yummy and highly potent things like fresh grated horseradish, hot peppers, garlic, and so forth. All things that are good for your health in many ways, but also taste really good. And let me tell you, if you are into the healing powers or not, a swing of this infused cider tonic will surely open up your sinus cavity like whoa.
And now before you get super excited about going and making yourself this fantastic health tonic/salad dressing/drink mixer, and thinking it will be ready and done as soon as you do a little grating, well hold up. You can throw it together super fast, but it does take a good 4-6 weeks of chilling and infusing before you really want to get into it. But don%u2019t let that stop you, it is 100% worth all the waiting. And wouldn%u2019t you know, the holidays are about 4-6 weeks away and I was just thinking after I made a batch for myself how I should make another big batch and give away in little jars for Christmas this year. Now there is a good idea. (Might not be a doctor, but I sure am a smarty pants%u2026HAHAHA)
Now to the Fire cider!
Garlic, onion and hot peppers, chopped into bits. Place it all into a clean 32oz jar.
Grated horseradish, turmeric, and ginger. Into jar it goes. And watch out, freshly grated horseradish can be a little intense.
Sliced lemon. Into said jar along with thyme, oregano, and peppercorns.
Packed and filled with raw apple cider vinegar.
Now a lid and some time in a cool dark place and you got yourself some liquid gold.
Remember, I am not a doctor so yeah, but this cider helps me feel better when I need it to and I think you will find it will help you too. And it tastes freaking awesome on food so theres that!
-C
makes 16-20 oz
1/3 cup fresh grated horseradish
1/4 cup fresh grated ginger root
1/4 cup fresh grated tumeric
1 chopped onion
3-5 heads of garlic chopped
2%u20144 hot peppers (depending on the type you use and the heat level you want) chopped
1 lemon sliced
1 teaspoon peppercorns
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon thyme
Raw apple Cider Vinegar
Honey or maple syrup (optional)
Note. Feel free to change the amounts of all of the ingredients. Want to use less horseradish, then do so. No hot peppers, then don%u2019t add them. Leave out the oregano and thyme and add dill or rosemary. You can be creative with your own flavors.
Now to make fire cider.
Place all ingredients besides vinegar into a 32 oz jar. Pack down with a wooden spoon then fill jar with apple cider vinegar.(Make sure all the stuff is submerged in the vinegar.) Place a lid on jar. If using a metal lid, line top with wax paper first or just use a plastic lid if you have one. Place jar in a cool dark place for 4-6 weeks, giving it a shake every day.
After at least 4 weeks, remove lid of the jar, strain the liquid from the solids through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, squeezing out as much as the liquid as you can. You can discard the solids or make something tasty with them (saut%u00e9ed with potatoes?). Then taste the liquid. Add sweetener if you want, maybe a few tablespoons to start and go from there.
And thats it. Store the cider a lidded jar in a cool dark place. Or in the fridge if you want it cold.
To use, just take a swig when feeling crappy, stuffy, cold, or just want a tasty little pick me up. Or use as condiment on food, like in a salad or wherever.
Enjoy!
The heat is officially on in the house because well, it got kind of freezing out and also because we got some snow! So awesome and unexpected. Sure, it was only an inch and came at the exact wrong time making for a very sketchy driving situation, and also it froze all the chard in the garden I had left (I harvested it and just tossed it in the freezer for soups), but whatever. I was, and am just so happy to see it. I really do love this time of year, even if everyone else hates it.
The week started off slow. The extra hour was welcomed but also really kind of screwed with my body clock. I have been getting better throughout the week, but the first few days we changed the clock, I was waking up at like 3 am. Yes, I was going to bed at like 630, but when your tired, your tired. Anyway, besides being a little groggy, it was the usual as usual. Work stuff, getting ready for winter weather, dealing with the dealings. We had lunch with Megan, a spaghetti dinner with Judah, and I picked up the first winter farm share of the season. Lots of roots, greens, Brussels sprout, and peppers. All the best food a lady could ask for. I am also feeling like a queen with my new, permanent, gold crown in my mouth. And now I am officially sick of going to the dentist. Going to try really hard to not have to go back ever again, or at least 6 months when I am due for a clean.
Oh, and lets not forget how I busted out the new toilet brushes. Who doesn%u2019t love a fresh toilet brush? Highlight of the week. HA.
Today the mr and don%u2019t have much in the way of plans besides getting the winter tires thrown on the car and getting out of town for the afternoon for a hike. So I am going to the gym and dropping off the library books this morning, we will then deal with the car, and then off we will go, heading out to conquer a mountain. Or a small trail. I am fine with either. Just as long as we are outside.
Links from the internet for your reading and browsing enjoyment.
–Why You Should Find Time to Be Alone With Yourself. Alone time is the best. I cannot stress how important alone time for me is%u2026 I NEED IT!
-I didi%u2019t know how awesome and strong ginkgo trees were. Consider the ginkgo. These ancient trees survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.
-First, how is Emma Watson turning 30? Second, Yes lady. Did Emma Watson Just Coin the Next %u201cConscious Uncoupling%u201d?
-Why haven%u2019t I don%u2019t this yet? The Tangy-Sweet Pickled Fruit I Put on Absolutely%u00a0Everything
–Very Generous People Are Way Happier (and Have More Friend)
-Looking for new shoes is the worst. But I found some that are not exactly winter friendly, but maybe I can make them work? Teva%u00a0Voya Infinity Sandals. OR these appropriate footwear. I love them but jeez, I am not paying that much for a shoe.
-Give me roots, all the roots. Root, root, root for rutabaga, turnips and those other unappreciated vegetables
-This is me! %u2018It%u2019s cool to be cold%u2019: Confessions of frigid-weather fanatics
–The Cookie Sculptor. I think I need to spend more time sculpting cookies.
–Scrubbing Your House Of Bacteria Could Clear The Way For Fungus. I am a clean freak, but I don%u2019t use any chemicals whatsoever. Vinegar, water, vacuum. How that keeps the bad fungus away.
And pictures from the week.
Let us talk about how winter squash is like one of the best foods ever. Seriously. Hardy, creamy, rich, and full of the nutty, sweet flavors of all the good things. How anyone says they don%u2019t like winter squash is beyond me. I sometimes even feel like I put myself in danger of exploding when I am around enough cooked squash. I can eat and eat it until it%u2019s gone, which is fine if it%u2019s a serving or two, but when you roast up a 10 pound butternut, well, that is when the danger is real. I am getting better at holding back, but man, sometimes I just can’t (or don%u2019t want to?) help myself. ( You might also wonder why I cook 10 pounds of squash at a time. It%u2019s because I will eat it all in a few days and I might as well cook a bunch at once, for efficiency sake.)
Now the delicata squah. If you haven%u2019t had it before, stop what you are doing and go get one. You need to try it because it is amazing. Sweet, nutty, creamy. So good! And another good thing is that they are not giant, so you can buy one and eat the whole thing and not worry about overeating until you can%u2019t move, unless that is the goal. In that case, just buy a bunch. HA.
Anyway, it%u2019s getting to that time of year where salad is still great, it is just great warm. And with winter squash. Don%u2019t you agree? So we cook up the squash, grab the kale and make one heck of a salad to eat all to your face. Because that is what will happen. You will make it , taste it, and not want to share it. It is too good to share. (Yes salads can be too good to share, so if you are planning on feeding others, plan accordingly)
To the salad!
The stuff. Kale, a delicata squash, red onion, some balsamic vinegar, a touch of maple, spicy brown mustard, a handful of toasted seeds, and salt and pepper.
Start with the squash. Cut it in half and scoop seeds from booth sides (these seeds are great roasted). After deseeded, cut both pieces into 1/4-1/2 inch thick rounds. And NO!!!!, do not peel the skin.
Grab the onion and cut into 1/4 inch rounds too.
Place the squash on a very lightly oiled baking sheet so the pieces are not overlapping each other. Then toss on the onion which is fine if it overlaps. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and lots of cracked pepper and pop into a hot oven.
In the meantime, mix the dressing situation together. Mustard, maple, and balsamic in a jar, mix and done.
Chop the kale too. Into mouth sized pieces.
Once squash is cooked all nice and tender, remove pan from oven. Take all the kale and toss on top then take the dressing and drizzle it all over the kale. Pop the pan back into the oven for a minutes or two, just until the kale starts to ever so slightly wilt.
Pull the pan back out and give it a good toss.
Dump it all into a big bowl, toss in the toasted seeds, and call it. Now grab a fork and start eating.
-C
Can be a main dish for 1 or a side for a few
1 delicata squash
1 bunch of kale (around 3/4 pound)
1 smallish red onion
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 -2 teaspoons maple syrup (more for a slightly sweeter, maple-y flavor)
2 tablespoons brown or dijon mustard
1/4 cup toasted seeds of choice (I used pumpkin and sunflower)
Preheat oven to 400
Cut delicata squash in half and scoop out all the seeds (you can save seeds to toast up later if you want), then slice the squash into 1/4 – 1/2 inch thick rounds. Grab onion and cut into thin slices. Take onion and squash and place them onto a very lightly oiled baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Don%u2019t let the squash overlap, but it is fine for the onion to overlap the squash and itself. Pop the pan into the oven and bake until the squash starts to brown and is fork tender, which should take about 10-15 minutes.
In the meantime, chop kale into small mouth sized pieces and set aside. And mix the balsamic, mustard, and maple together to create the dressing.
Once the squash and onions are cooked, toss the kale onto the pan and drizzle the whole thing with the balsamic mixture. Toss it all around and pop pan back into oven for another minute or two, just to let kale get a touch wilted.
Remove pan from oven, dump everything from pan onto a plate, and toss in the toasted seeds.
Grab a fork. Eat.
I don%u2019t know what the hell I was just reamng about, but I woke up with Celine Dion %u201cThats the way it is%u201d stuck in my head. I am pretty sure I haven%u2019t heard that song in like 10 years so it had to have made it%u2019s way out of my deep, deep subconscious. What does it mean? And why won%u2019t it stop replaying in my awake head!
What a ear worm to have on a Sunday morning. I need to plug my headphones in and listen to something, anything. It%u2019s driving me nuts!
The past week involved our last camp of the year. We went to Little River State Park (the last place open) in the pouring rain and crazy wind and did our thing. Set up camp, hiked, made food. All drenched and loving every second of it, even the rm, who was fighting off a pretty crappy head cold. One thing that I did not love was that I was trying to dry out my soaking wet hiking boots a bit by the fire and ended up melting them. Yup, they actually melted, but lucky the mr brought extra shoes so those got me through the rest of the time. Anyway, so that was it, no more camping (due to the fact that it gets dark at 4 now and everything is closed for the season). And yes, I am sad about it. Until next year I guess, or until I convince the mr that winter camping is a good thing.
The rest of week involved me breaking and swallowing half of the second temporary crown. This time I did not bother going back for a third because my new permanent gold one goes in this week so I am just dealing for the time being. Then there was Halloween, which by hat time in the week, I was starting feel icky and sick, but still good enough for Barb to come over for dinner, watch me hand out a few handfuls of candy and walk the block in the rain. That storm was crazy with some freaky rain. The downpours were so intense at times that I though our house was going to wash away.
Not much else. I worked the studio and cut my hand open again. There was no farm share this week so I have had to go to the grocery store more then I would have liked. I cleaned the back porch off and backed away most of the summer stuff, and I found a few pairs of wool socks hiding in my closet. That was really nice. We didn%u2019t see the littles cause they were all busy being cool with their fiends and between the mr and I both feeling under the weather, we choose to not infect the masses. We thought it better to lay a little low because we are good, caring people. Ha.
Yesterday was an Ikea day. Paul and Barb both wanted to go, so go we did. Left early morning, got stuck in dumb stupid traffic, then got to Ikea just in time for everyone else in Montreal to get there too. I peed, they got hot dogs. They shopped, I shouted. I peed again, they checked out and loaded up on more hot dogs. And then home we went. Me and Barb basically sitting on top of each other because Paul bought a shelf that took up half the car but you know what, traffic did not suck, the boarder was fine, and all and all not a bad trip. Minus the smell of the hotdogs, it made me want to barf.
And then I came home, the mr ran to rescue one of our tenants, I made dinner, we went for a walk, then I went to bed. Still feeling off and was more then happy just to get underneath all the covers and sleep.
Today the mr and I are not camping, but we are going hiking, so there is that. And we plan on making soup for dinner and maybe%u2026maybe, turning the heat on tonight if we are feeling extra cold. But probably not. We might just wait til it snows.
Some links to look at from the internet.
–Is A Diet That’s Healthy For Us Also Better For The Planet? Most Of The Time, Yes. Get on board people.
-On the drive to Ikea, we got into the conversation of seltzer because it%u2019s always about seltzer. Is Seltzer Bad for You?
–This map shows how food travels from farms to your home. Some things really travel so far, it%u2019s kind of crazy. Let us all try to eat more local, yes?
–Why do people hate vegans? Why indeed.
-Keep your brain alive and healthy. 5 Daily Habits That Negatively Affect the Brain and Should Be Stopped Before the Damage Becomes Irreversible
–How Jane Fonda%u00a0Convinces Her Famous Friends to Get Arrested. I would get arrested with Jane Fonda. Hell, I Would do just about anything with Jane Fonda.
-Bulk all the way, but done right. The Problem With America%u2019s Bulk Food Bins
-Thank you Dutch science people for making the world embrace Brussel sprouts. From Culinary Dud To Stud: How Dutch Plant Breeders Built Our Brussels Sprouts Boom
-Yes please! MAKE MINE AN A-FRAME.
–I Tried the Wim Hof Method to Find Happiness Through Suffering%u00a0. I don%u2019t know, I could see this working for me. Huh.
And pictures from the week.