It%u2019s a smoothie. And no, we have never really been smoothie people in this house, but what can I say, sometimes smoothies happen, especially when you have about 20 ripe bananas in the fruit bowl with no room in the freezer and no need for 7 loafs of banana bread.
So I smoothied. And I like it (a lot).
This is a smoothie of simplicity. Nothing fancy. Simplest of simple. Straight to the point. And all sorts of good.
You might think, does this simple smoothie you speak of taste very good? Yes, yes indeed it does. It is all sorts of fantastic. Basically if you like creamy, nutty, oaty, bananery things, you will like this. And it%u2019s a perfect breakfast, snack, dessert, or just wanting a little treat like thing that is not garbage food. A smoothie of all smoothies with the most basic ingredients. And takes about 15 seconds to whip up. Can%u2019t complain about that.
To the smoothie goodness!
The stuff. A ripe banana, some old fashion rolled oats, a pinch of salt, water, and a smidge of maple syrup if you want it.
Everything goes into blender.
And blended until smooth. Hence the word smoothie.
Pour it into a cup (or if you are feeling primal, drink it straight from the blender%u2026 it%u2019s totally cool)
And done.
A banana oat smoothie.
Let the good time roll!
-C
makes 1 smoothie
1 very ripe banana
1/3 cup raw old fashion oats
1 1/2 cups water
pinch of salt
a tablespoon or two of any sweetener you like (optional)
a pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Place everything into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a cup, sprinkle with cinnamon if you wish, and drink right away.
We went from -30 degrees to 50 above in 2 day. What the F! Yesterday the day rained but got nice and warm, then the temperature fell hardl and last light the world started to get so slick and slippery. Going out was getting a little scary because of the ice. I went to bed a little afraid that I have to leave the house today for fear of slipping and smacking my face. It’s a real fear and I know its bound to happen. I can already picture it, me walking along, maybe whistling a little tune, and smack, just like a cartoon character slipping on a banana peel.%u00a0 I will go down fast and hard. I am not a graceful person.
But the day is going to happen and I have things to do that involve leaving he house.. I have the arnica and frozen peas ready just in case, but I might just leave on my hands and knees.
Enough about my irrational (but totally rational) fear. Lets talk about food. I am already thinking ahead to dinner. Or more like I am thinking behind to last nights dinner of oatmeal. A grain typically used as a breakfast food, cooked until light and fluffy, topped with sugars and fruits and sweet things.%u00a0 Oatmeal for breakfast is always welcomed and always will be. But today my friends I am going to blow your mind and tell you to eat your oatmeal at dinner time,with salt and pepper and lots of yummy savory beans and veggies.%u00a0
Pow!
But doesn’t make complete sense? Oats are so good, hearty, heart healthy, and pretty freaking cheap. Easy to cook, goes with everything. It’s almost like rice, but I find is even more filling and contains more protein. Have no idea what to do for dinner. Grab the oats and a can of beans! Had a long day at work and just want something quick and easy and comforting. Oats with a bunch of veggies!%u00a0 You can pretty much do anything with a bowl of oatmeal and it will be good. (tomato sauce, crispy tofu, a fried egg, cheese if you like.. you get the idea) It seems weird to me now that people all over are not eating oatmeal for dinner all the time…. yet. I have a strong feeling that everyone is going to be eating savory oatmeal for dinner very soon, so I am giving you the heads up so you can jump on this wagon now!
The stuff. A big cup of old fashion oats, a few mushroom, an onion, some cooked chickpeas, a clove or two of garlic and a mound of chopped greens. And we are going to also need a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper and, if you have any, a small handful of cashews (or any other nut).
Begin by dicing up the onion and the mushrooms nice thing ans tossing them into a skillet with a touch of olive oil. Stick the skillet on the stove on medium heat and begin to cook.
When the veggies are on the stove, bring 2 cups of water to a boil, sprinkle it with salt, then dump in your oats. Give the oats a quick stir, then tun the heat down to medium and place a lid on the pot and leave it alone.
Once the veggies have cooked down a bit, mince up the garlic and toss into pan, along with the chickpeas (drain any liquid). Add a good glug glug of balsamic vinegar and continue to cook on medium heat until everything is nice and cooked and golden brown and tasty.
And lastly, toss in the chopped up greens and stir around until wilted.
And i bet that your oatmeal is done by now, cooked until oats are soft and the water has absorbed.
And the veggie bean mixture is ready.
A big heaping scoop of oatmeal, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and topped with a hearty heap of the cooked veggies and chick peas. Adding a few chopped nuts on top and another glug of vinegar…. It’s the most perfect meal.
Happy Wednesday and watch you footing!
-C
Serves 2
1 cup old fashion oats
2 cups water
1 cup or so of cooked chickpeas
small onion
3-4 large white or cremini mushrooms
2 big handfuls of chopped greens (kale,spinach, collards, or broccoli leaf.. whatever greens you got!)
1-2 cloves garlic
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
handful of cashews or some other nut (optional)
Start by chopping you mushrooms and onions and tossing them with splash of olive oil into a skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and Begin to cook on medium heat.
Grab a heavy bottom pot ans bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, dump in the oats, add a pinch of salt, give a little stir and reduce heat to medium low. Stick a lid on pot and leave it alone for about 10 minutes.
Once the mushrooms ans onions are starting to cook down, mince up garlic and add in, along with the chickpeas (drained of liquid) and a few tablespoons of the vinegar. Continue to cook until the veggies are browned, the chick peas are hot, and everything tastes good (give it a taste) Lastly, add in the chopped greens and stir around until wilted.
And the oatmeal should be done. (it;s done when its nice and light and fluffy and that water has absorbed)
Grab a bowl, add a big scoop of the oatmeal, sprinkle with salt and pepper, top with a large amount of the veggie bean mixture and top with another glug of vinegar and some of those cashews all chopped up.
Oh yes, It is Sunday and man oh boy, am I beat. Yesterday the mr and I spent the day digging 2 1/2 foot holes for fence posts at the new house. It was actually pretty great because we got to spend the day outside and it was the most lovely day, all sunny and warm. The only problem we had was that the fence line landed on top of all the most gnarly tree roots and it took about an hour of hacking away per hole. We got to 6 and have 11 more to go (Ouch!) SO yeah, a little sore, but luckily the hardest part is done and we are going to take today off from fencing and be hang with the fam (cause it;s mothers day)
Which brings me to a my, “Happy Mothers Day to all you ladies out there being mommas and all out wonderful human beings!” You have the hardest job of all and today you deserve all the breakfast, lunch, dinner, flowers, naps, macaroni necklaces and then some. Take the day and do you forget about the to do list. IT can wait until tomorrow.
As for me, I am not an actual mom, but I have enough litttles in my life that I am kinda like a part time momma. So after an afternoon of family and mom ladies and feeding them all lunch, I am going home, walking the pup (I am his momma) and taking a nap myself. I am greatly looking forward to it.
Again, Happy Mothers Day, (especially you mom.. Love you!)
The internet fun stuff from the week.
-If you are one of those people who leaves everything (the phone and computer plugged in all day, read this. Just How Much Power Do Your Electronics Use When They Are %u2018Off%u2019?.
– Funny, kinda sad, but really cool. Eat Your Heart Out. A series of words remembered
from break-ups reimagined as something sweet.
-I keep looking at these boots. The ease of off and on with all the style of a rubber sole and brown! I really want them… someday.
-Bathroom Inspiration. We are doing bathroom next!
– The broccoli is my favorite. Japanese Lego Master Builds Delicious-Looking Creations From Blocks
–Perception vs. Reality. Perception is its own reality when you%u2019re eating.
-All sorts of pretty. Cherry Blossoms Flood the Inokashira Park Lake in Tokyo
-Check out these DUCKS!
-I am freaking obsessed with this wood flooring.If I had a million dollars to blow, I would put it throughout the whole house.
-Awesome photos from the 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest
Pictures of all the great things this week. So much color!
The mr and I went into the Green Mountain National Forest and cut down a lovely tree to serve as out first Christmas tree in the new house! It was a very very bittersweet adventure.
Not going to lie, we got into the truck, headed out, and20 minutes into the ride we second guessed if we really wanted to go. We almost turned around. Getting our tree has always been our favorite traditions hands down. We head out early, drive south west with our boats, hats,mittens, and a pile of orange flags, and drive up fire road 59 in the national forest. It is a great day of hiking in the snow (there is always snow in the mountains even when there isn’t any down here in the valley), Christmas music, hot coffee, and dog treats. This year we listened to a few Christmas songs but then switched it to NPR. We got the hot coffee, but no dog treats, and the hike. Well that didn’t really happen. See I was trying (and failing) my hardest not to completely break down and melt. I was feeling way, way to many feelings. So the mr and I pretty much drove up the mountain into the national forest, spotted a sweet tree from the road, (25 ft from the road like the ranger said) walked into the woods and cut down our tree. I was laughing, the mr happy yielding his saw, but it didn’t feel quite right. I kept looking around for a flash of a tail or an over-excited bundle of fur and orange jumping over downed tree like a horse.%u00a0 Sure, getting the tree is about the tree, but it was always more about watching Washer go bat shit crazy playing in the snow, finding the biggest sticks, and all around being as happy as a dog can be. Not having him with us hurt. A lot. But we needed to get our tree and spend the day telling Washer stories and remembering all the good stuff. He would have been proud of our tree, chasing after it like it was a new toy all for him. I am pretty sure that
Oh boy are the holidays hard this year. Missing my brothers, missing my dog, Fuckers. And on that sad note…..
Today the mr and I are getting down and dirty, sitting in the empty room we call a kitchen and sketching out and measuring for all that is going to be wonderful . This time next week we should have a semi functional kitchen!!!!!!(I hope I am not jinxing us here) I think we also planned a bit of light hanging on the outside of the house (thinking colored lights because they go better with the bags of trash on the porch than white. haha) And because we are cat sitting for my sister, we are going to go over to her house, play with her cat, turn her heat on so the pipes don’t freeze and drink ALL of her coffee.
Soon I’ll have a finished house with a kitchen that I can spend all my day baking bread and cookies for everybody, but until then.%u00a0 #Lifegoals
Some stuff I read on the internet.
-So fucked up but funny as shit. People Knowingly Donated $100,000 To Dig A Big, Pointless Hole In The Ground
-I love new my walls white with the natural wood trim, but I give it a year, then maybe I might rethink the wood and do some more painting. WHITEWASHED STYLE.
-I know a few people who could use a lesson in not being completely miserable. I think we all do.It%u2019s Possible to Teach Yourself to Be More Optimistic
–What Do Birds Hear When They Sing Beautiful Songs?
– The Best Way to Keep Pancakes and Waffles Warm because it’s important to serve your people warm food.
-FYI .Vegan Diets, As Long As They Are Well-Balanced, Are Good for Pregnant Women and Children
-I want to do this with some of my old lights. Paint your Christmas lights.%u00a0 Gold is the way to go.
–Americans Don’t Trust Scientists’ Take On Food Issues. Do you? I take it all with a grain of salt (sometimes bigger then other)
-Some say I am picky. I disagree,I know picky eats, people that will only eat pizza or pasta and not eat the goods. That’s no me. I just know exactly what I like (all the fruits and veggies) and who I trust touching it. ( local farmers to my mouth works for me) When the Picky Eater Is a Grown-Up.
–This Beer Advent Calendar Is What We All Need for the Holiday Season. A really good idea. Maybe next year.
And pictures… All from the Christmas tree adventure because they are great and also I have been leaving my camera in bad places so I never have it when I want it. Bad habit that I need to break.
Holy crap, it’s Easter…. Well Happy Easter to you (if you celebrate it). And if no, happy beautiful spring day. It’s going to be so nice and warm and sunny today. I am really excited… spring is finally here!
This past week was epic for th house. The roof was ripped off and now the new addition is up! It all started on Monday when the mr got a phone call asking if he could go let the guys into the house(they were a day early). and three days later they were done, the walls and the roof were up!(not the roofing, we are doing that next week) It was like magic ad I couldn’t be happier. The upstairs is now huge and bright. Our new bedroom space is bigger then our entire living space now. I am all like Woo hoo!
When the guys were finished, the work started for us. We had to finish knocking all the walls down and ripping up all the shit floors. It’s been a hard on the body kinda week of work and every single muscle in my body is aching. (the mrs too but he doesn’t complain. He is a champ) 5 years ago I was able to rip apart a house and be like ” what what” the next day. Now I am like What what no.. creak creak” I am officially an old lady and now I need a break!
WE are taking a semi break today( although there might be a little framing and light cleaning might be in store) because it’s Sunday and it’s Easter. The family is getting together for food, fun and a egg hunt, which I am really excited about., and lots of sitting outside absorbing the warm sunshine and fresh clean springtime air. It’s going to be great. I am even planning on bringing a book and passing out on the back porch at some point.
What about you, any fantastic Easter/Sunday plans? Are you going to spend the day hunting down specially hidden Easter eggs, eating lots of chocolate eggs (and carrots I hope) and hanging with loved one?. I sure hope so. And don’t forget to get outside. We could all use the fresh air.
Some stuff to read if you get sick of all the jelly beans.
-Ever wonder how those magazines get those amazing photos of food? Well this article explains it all. Ceci N’Est Pas Ice Cream (Actually It’s Lard And Food Coloring)
-I love spring and all the pretty bloom that comes with it.%u00a0
-I went and got avocados right after I saw this (haven’t tried it yet though) HOW TO MAKE AN AVOCADO ROSE
-I was thinking about making the pup a new bed. I really like this design. (and fabric)
-Did you know that Ikea sold candy? I had no clue but here is a guide for the good and the bad. Top 10 IKEA Pick & Mix Candies You Need to Try
-One mans weed is another mans salad. How to Cook with Weeds
– I sometime think I can see a few more colors then is normal….A New Study Helps Explain Why Some People Can See So Many Colors
–These plates would make me so happy.. and not just for Easter. And these molds even though I don’t need them
–Trend Alert: 8 Techno Toilets cause we all need a gadgety toilet seat(no, not really)
– Is this for real? Unicorn Kisses Seltzer Water... As a seltzer water junky, I really freaking hope so.
%u00a0I remember long ago, when I was just a little, my mom would take me to the health food store with her to get whatever new fancy snack that she was obsessed with or to stock up on way to expensive jams and her very specific boxes of teas that she could not find anywhere else. Those were the days (when mom was buying the groceries) And I loved going to the store with here because well, bulk bins! Oh the bulk section, it had all the best stuff like sesame sticks and granola chunks.%u00a0 It was a free for all,, grabbing a piece dried mango here or a handful of almonds there. (don’t judge, I as just a sweet little little, I don’t do that anymore…often) %u00a0 This store had a pretty impressive bulk section and includedtwo bins of carob covered rice cakes. One was plain, one was mint, both freaking delicious. Up until the first time I ate one of those rice cakes I had no clue what carob was or that those rice cakes were not chocolate. I just remember that they were super tasty and that my mom always got one for me.%u00a0 She wold buy a dozen and I might have gotten to eat another one of those too.%u00a0 I loved those rice cakes.
I haven’t seen a carob covered rice cake in years.%u00a0 I think that they stopped carrying them or maybe it’s because the store has changed a lot and I don’t often go there anymore, but either way, it’s been a while. So anyway, last week I spur of the moment bought a package of (unsalted plain) rice cakes, then realized that the mr wasn’t to into rice cakes anymore (there was a long period of time where I made him peanut butter banana rice cakes for lunch everyday). But I bought them and they need to be eaten, and that’s when it came to me.. Make the carob covered rice cakes from the old days. Something new and different for the mr and something super nostalgic for me.
And it helped that it has been way to freakin deakin hot and all the things that I have been wanting to bake (cherry pie, rhubarb cake, food in general) just wasn’t happening. . But these sweet treats take 2 minutes to make and require no heat whatsoever (my coconut was already melted.) Can you really ask for more?
The stuff. Carob powder, coconut oil and rice cakes. I should have stuck the sea salt in the picture, but it is kind of optional..
Simple as can be. Th oil and carob powder get combined in a bowl of some kind.
Mixed together until silky smooth and BLING BLING shiny.
Rice cakes all ready to get decked out ( doing this on wax paper to make life much easier)
Smothered with the carob all over. You can do one side at a time, sticking it into the freezer to set for a minute or just get a little messy and do it all at once. Up to you. But wither way, it need to go in the freezer for just a few minute to get hard.
And right before you stick them in the freezer, sprinkled with sea salt.
Uh huh.. Looking good. And taste ever better then I remembered. (it’s the salt. Salt makes everything better)
-C
Makes 2 (why make only 1)
2 tablespoons coconut oil
4 heaping tablespoons carob powder
2 plain rice cakes
Sea salt
In a bowl mix together melted coconut oil with the carob powder until a smooth and shinny consistency. With a spatula, smother the top and the sides of the rice cakes with the mixture. Place on wax wax paper, un-carobed bottom down, and stick in freezer for a few minutes until carob has harden. Remove, flip, and smother remaining side. (you can do both sided at once, but it’s a little messier) Sprinkle salt on now and back into freezer until hard. Remove and eat.
Note. If you make two and have one left over for late, keep it in an air tight container in the fridge or freezer. It will melt just like chocolate.
Just checking in with the world….. I have been totally neglecting the Internet and pretty much all of normal life since we have been gone. So how are you doing?
As of today, the mr and I are in Iceland, the land of trolls, elves, and kFC(I’ll tell you about it later) and are heading back home tomorrow night, so today we are going to spend it exploring for those elves and trolls(among other thing).
And I have so much to share. So when I get back, get my sleep back to normal and my life in real world mode again, I’ll post lots and lots of pictures and tell you all about it.
until then, hope everyone is happy, healthy, and living the dream!
No it is not weird or gross or anything. I wouldn’t do that to you. These popsicles are down right deeee-lightful. Rich and creamy and sweet. Both the creamy coconut and the toasted coconut pair perfectly with the sweet corn flavor. They truly are delicious and I think that if you give them a try, you will think so too. And really, now that it is like almost summer, who doesn’t have a little extra corn laying around. So you might as well just make a batch.
And then you will thank me for introducing you to the goodness that is a toasted coconut and corn popsicle. Heck, the mr even ate one and he (still, after I have proven him wrong on a many occasions) says he hates corn. So if a corn hater likes these, imagine what a corn lover will think. HAHA. Corn lover.
To the popsicles!
The stuff. Corn, full fat coconut milk, shredded coconut, and maple syrup.
First, remove corn from cob and place on a baking sheet. Bake in oven for 10-ish minutes until corn is cooked and all nice and sweet.
And don%u2019t forget to toast the coconut. A few minutes in the oven is all it needs.
Now to blend. Corn and coconut milk go in first to blend until nice and smooth. Then add in the maple and coconut and blend until just combined. That will leave a little coconut texture. If you want it smooth, well just blend until completely smooth. Do what feels right to you.
Thick, rich and creamy popsicle mixture.
Now pour it into the molds and stick into the freezer. You could probably stick the sticks in now or wait a little while for the mixture to set a bit, but just don%u2019t forget to get sticks in those popsicles before they completely freeze. That would suck.
Pop those lovelies out of the molds and there you go.
The anticipation is over. Eat a popsicle
-C
makes 4 average sized popsicles
2 ears corn (about a cup of corn kernels)
1 cup full fat coconut milk (the canned stuff)
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
2- 4 tablespoons maple syrup
Note. If you have left over cooked corn, just use that. You don%u2019t need to recook it so skip the cooking corn step.
Preheat oven to 400
Remove corn kernels from cob and place on a baking sheet pretty evenly. Pop into the oven for 10 minutes of so or until the corn is cooked through and nice and sweet.
Remove corn and dump it into blender and set aside to cool for a few minutes. Place the coconut onto the baking sheet and pop into the oven for 3-4 minutes to just lightly toast. When the coconut is toasted, remove from oven.
Grab the blender with the corn and pot in the coconut milk. Blend until smooth. Add in the maple (start with 2 tablespoons and work your way up to the sweetness you like) and the toasted coconut. Blend quickly just to combine for a slightly more textures popsicle or blend completely smooth if you would rather a smoother popsicle.
Pour mixture into popsicles molds and place into freezer. After the mixture sets up (about an hour) pop sticks into molds. Continue to freeze until completely frozen. Usually 4-6 hours.
And then when it is popsicle time, remove popsicles from molds and eat them.
A couple of nights ago we had a little impromptu birthday dinner at my sisters house for the mr.%u00a0 And what did he want to do for dinner, his very own special birthday dinner? Well what he wanted was to cook, with absolutely no help from me. So cook he did. And what did he make? He made grilled cheese sandwiches, on white bread and with bright orange cheddar cheese along with some classic canned Campell’s tomato soup. I was not even allowed to make a salad (but he was being so nice when permitting me to make my own food)
But come on dude, it’s your birthday dinner. I was determined to make something so I said I was going to make a dessert. Nothing fancy and no cake (he is not a big cake guy), just something fast and easy. So I went with brownies of the sweet potato chocolate chip kind.%u00a0 Yeah I know what you are thinking..%u00a0 why am I not sharing those brownies? I’ll tell you why. They came out like shit. Like really gross, almost jello like and just not anything anyone would ever want to eat. Just shit.%u00a0 OH I was pissed. I mean, the one thing I got to do I screwed up. And there was no fixing them (I tried) So bum, there were no sweet dessert brownies ( but there was ice cream.. thanks Shannon) And worst of all, wasted food. Bah, I hate wasting food! ( I would have fed them to the dog but they were chocolate…. I miss having chickens that eat anything)
Side note here. Watching a lifetime original Christmas movie at the moment (don’t judge me)%u00a0 and it has Harriet and Carl Winslow in it. Talk about a throw back.. and now all I can think about is Urkel and his catch phrase”did I do that?” Anyways….
After the brownie disaster I really needed to make something that didn’t suck. I was going to go the brownie route again but unfortunately I used up all of my chocolate and cocoa for the shit batch before, so I went the blonde route. Blondies. close to a cookie, but not quite. A vanilla version of a chewy chocolate brownie.%u00a0 Chock full of super nutty macadamia nuts and big chunks of chocolate. Nothing missing, the perfect texture and sweetness.%u00a0 All and more of a better dessert then the night before. Perfection is what I call them and the mr is much happy with his birthday treat (with the added scoop of strawberry ice cream of course)
The stuff. A little bit of white whole wheat flour, some brown sugar, melted earth balance, a couple chia eggs,salt, a pinch of baking powder and some vanilla.%u00a0 And the mix in that make these blondies so great, the macadamia nuts and chocolate chunks.
It’s all super simple. The sugar, chia eggs, earth balance ans vanilla go into a bowl and get mix together until smooth. Then the salt gets sprinkled on along with the baking powder and lastly the flour on top.
And them mix it together unit its all incorporated… and don’t over mix!
Chop the macadamia nuts and chocalate chunks in somewhat smaller pieces…
And fold them into the batter.
And grab yourself a square pan, line it with foil or parchment paper, grease it a little, then dump in the batter and evenly pat in down into the pan.
Stick into the oven to bake.
And after 35-40 minutes of the amazing smells coming from your oven, the blondies should be done. Slightly browned, lookng like a cross between a cookie and a brownie, and raw in the middle, but only just.
Let the blondies cool for a few in the baking sheet, but then remove by the foil and cut into squares.
Keep them flat or stack them high. A dessert of the most fantastic kind.
My blonde redemption.
And lastly… HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVE!
-C
makes a 9×9 pan of goodness
-1 cup white whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup melted earth balance
2 tablespoons ground chia seeds plus 6 tablespoons warm water
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup roughly chopped macadamia nuts
3/4 cup of mini chocolate chunks (or chips)
Preheat oven to 350
Grab a bowl and cream together the earth balance and the sugar. Add in the chia eggs, the vanilla,salt, and baking powder and mix . Then add in the flour then mix that until just incorporated with the wet. And lastly, fold in the chopped nuts and chocolate chunks
Dump batter into a foil/ parchment paper lined and slightly greased 9 inch square baking pan and pat down with the spoon or your hand (hand is the way to go) and tick into the oven. Bake for 40 minutes or so until the top is starting to brown almost like a cookie but nice and all brownie like. Check for doneness with a toothpick in middle and if it comes out kinda clean, you can pop them out right there. (Don’t over cook.. and if you like a little under baked, do it up, just take them out a few minutes earlier)
Let cool in the pan and pop them out by the liner. Cut into squares (size to be determined by you) Eat one, maybe two, and share the rest (or not).
It%u2019s a smoothie. And no, we have never really been smoothie people in this house, but what can I say, sometimes smoothies happen, especially when you have about 20 ripe bananas in the fruit bowl with no room in the freezer and no need for 7 loafs of banana bread.
So I smoothied. And I like it (a lot).
This is a smoothie of simplicity. Nothing fancy. Simplest of simple. Straight to the point. And all sorts of good.
You might think, does this simple smoothie you speak of taste very good? Yes, yes indeed it does. It is all sorts of fantastic. Basically if you like creamy, nutty, oaty, bananery things, you will like this. And it%u2019s a perfect breakfast, snack, dessert, or just wanting a little treat like thing that is not garbage food. A smoothie of all smoothies with the most basic ingredients. And takes about 15 seconds to whip up. Can%u2019t complain about that.
To the smoothie goodness!
The stuff. A ripe banana, some old fashion rolled oats, a pinch of salt, water, and a smidge of maple syrup if you want it.
Everything goes into blender.
And blended until smooth. Hence the word smoothie.
Pour it into a cup (or if you are feeling primal, drink it straight from the blender%u2026 it%u2019s totally cool)
And done.
A banana oat smoothie.
Let the good time roll!
-C
makes 1 smoothie
1 very ripe banana
1/3 cup raw old fashion oats
1 1/2 cups water
pinch of salt
a tablespoon or two of any sweetener you like (optional)
a pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Place everything into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a cup, sprinkle with cinnamon if you wish, and drink right away.
It was summer for a day and it was great. Then it rained a bunch the next day and that was equally as great cause I love warm rainy days.%u00a0 And then the weather lady said that there is a chance of snowflakes in the valley Sunday night. (really?) It’s ok, one more cool day will be kinda nice because we all know it’s going to get hot and we will be looking back on this cool weather fondly. But until then, the lilacs are blooming and the trees are like POW with so much green… It’s all happy and pretty and just what I have been needing.
With all this nice weather lately, the mr and I have been spending a lot of time working on outdoor stuff (fencing trimming trees, moving plants) When it’s as nice as it has been, I don’t feel like going inside for a long lunch to feed myself and the food that I do eat, I want to be light and fresh, you know, like summer food. Nothing heavy or that can make me feel gross in warm weather. So my go to for lunch these days. A big ass bowl (usually a jar) of shredded veggies coated in mustard, vinegar, and salt and pepper, all the best things. (the best things being that it’s quick and easy and so tasty and pretty)%u00a0
And note about this salad slaw. It is great when made and eaten right away, but also travels really well. So if you need food to bring on the go (like to the beach, on a hike, or to the airport), this is what you should pack. It only tastes better the longer it sits.
The Stuff. Zucchini, summer squash, a beet, a few carrots, onion, and some cabbage (I used red and green but one or the other is good). Also need yellow mustard, red wine vinegar, and salt and pepper.
Shred, shave, or julienne all you veggies.. no precision, just do it.
All the pretty colors in a big bowl ( they don’t need to be separated, I just wanted to see the pretty)
And then it gets tossed all around. Add in a good sprinkle of salt and pepper, a glug glug of vinegar and a big ass scoop of yellow mustard. Give it another big toss.
And you good to go, or, let this sit for a while, it only ends up tasting better.
So simple and easy, but so good. Eat it as it is or toss it with greens, some lentils, on a sandwich or into some rice. Possibilities are endless.
Summertime here we come!
-C
Serves 1 as a meal, 2-3 as a side
a small zucchini
a small summer squash
a beet
a few carrots
a small onion
1/2 a head of cabbage (red or green or a little of both)
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
2-3 tablespoon red wine vinegar
salt and pepper
Note. Feel free to add more or less of your favorite veggie into the mix, even add one that isn’t on the list. And not a fan of yellow mustard, use stone ground or dijon or some fancy kinda of your liking.
Grab a bowl and all the veggies. Shred, shave, or julienne all of them into the bowl and mix around. Add in the mustard, vinegar and season with salt and pepper and toss around until evenly coated..
Can eat right away but tastes better after sitting for at least 10 minutes.%u00a0
THE LOVELY CRAZY
August 19, 2019 by maximios • Blog
It%u2019s a smoothie. And no, we have never really been smoothie people in this house, but what can I say, sometimes smoothies happen, especially when you have about 20 ripe bananas in the fruit bowl with no room in the freezer and no need for 7 loafs of banana bread.
So I smoothied. And I like it (a lot).
This is a smoothie of simplicity. Nothing fancy. Simplest of simple. Straight to the point. And all sorts of good.
You might think, does this simple smoothie you speak of taste very good? Yes, yes indeed it does. It is all sorts of fantastic. Basically if you like creamy, nutty, oaty, bananery things, you will like this. And it%u2019s a perfect breakfast, snack, dessert, or just wanting a little treat like thing that is not garbage food. A smoothie of all smoothies with the most basic ingredients. And takes about 15 seconds to whip up. Can%u2019t complain about that.
To the smoothie goodness!
The stuff. A ripe banana, some old fashion rolled oats, a pinch of salt, water, and a smidge of maple syrup if you want it.
Everything goes into blender.
And blended until smooth. Hence the word smoothie.
Pour it into a cup (or if you are feeling primal, drink it straight from the blender%u2026 it%u2019s totally cool)
And done.
A banana oat smoothie.
Let the good time roll!
-C
makes 1 smoothie
1 very ripe banana
1/3 cup raw old fashion oats
1 1/2 cups water
pinch of salt
a tablespoon or two of any sweetener you like (optional)
a pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Place everything into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a cup, sprinkle with cinnamon if you wish, and drink right away.
We went from -30 degrees to 50 above in 2 day. What the F! Yesterday the day rained but got nice and warm, then the temperature fell hardl and last light the world started to get so slick and slippery. Going out was getting a little scary because of the ice. I went to bed a little afraid that I have to leave the house today for fear of slipping and smacking my face. It’s a real fear and I know its bound to happen. I can already picture it, me walking along, maybe whistling a little tune, and smack, just like a cartoon character slipping on a banana peel.%u00a0 I will go down fast and hard. I am not a graceful person.
But the day is going to happen and I have things to do that involve leaving he house.. I have the arnica and frozen peas ready just in case, but I might just leave on my hands and knees.
Enough about my irrational (but totally rational) fear. Lets talk about food. I am already thinking ahead to dinner. Or more like I am thinking behind to last nights dinner of oatmeal. A grain typically used as a breakfast food, cooked until light and fluffy, topped with sugars and fruits and sweet things.%u00a0 Oatmeal for breakfast is always welcomed and always will be. But today my friends I am going to blow your mind and tell you to eat your oatmeal at dinner time,with salt and pepper and lots of yummy savory beans and veggies.%u00a0
Pow!
But doesn’t make complete sense? Oats are so good, hearty, heart healthy, and pretty freaking cheap. Easy to cook, goes with everything. It’s almost like rice, but I find is even more filling and contains more protein. Have no idea what to do for dinner. Grab the oats and a can of beans! Had a long day at work and just want something quick and easy and comforting. Oats with a bunch of veggies!%u00a0 You can pretty much do anything with a bowl of oatmeal and it will be good. (tomato sauce, crispy tofu, a fried egg, cheese if you like.. you get the idea) It seems weird to me now that people all over are not eating oatmeal for dinner all the time…. yet. I have a strong feeling that everyone is going to be eating savory oatmeal for dinner very soon, so I am giving you the heads up so you can jump on this wagon now!
The stuff. A big cup of old fashion oats, a few mushroom, an onion, some cooked chickpeas, a clove or two of garlic and a mound of chopped greens. And we are going to also need a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper and, if you have any, a small handful of cashews (or any other nut).
Begin by dicing up the onion and the mushrooms nice thing ans tossing them into a skillet with a touch of olive oil. Stick the skillet on the stove on medium heat and begin to cook.
When the veggies are on the stove, bring 2 cups of water to a boil, sprinkle it with salt, then dump in your oats. Give the oats a quick stir, then tun the heat down to medium and place a lid on the pot and leave it alone.
Once the veggies have cooked down a bit, mince up the garlic and toss into pan, along with the chickpeas (drain any liquid). Add a good glug glug of balsamic vinegar and continue to cook on medium heat until everything is nice and cooked and golden brown and tasty.
And lastly, toss in the chopped up greens and stir around until wilted.
And i bet that your oatmeal is done by now, cooked until oats are soft and the water has absorbed.
And the veggie bean mixture is ready.
A big heaping scoop of oatmeal, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and topped with a hearty heap of the cooked veggies and chick peas. Adding a few chopped nuts on top and another glug of vinegar…. It’s the most perfect meal.
Happy Wednesday and watch you footing!
-C
Serves 2
Start by chopping you mushrooms and onions and tossing them with splash of olive oil into a skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and Begin to cook on medium heat.
Grab a heavy bottom pot ans bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, dump in the oats, add a pinch of salt, give a little stir and reduce heat to medium low. Stick a lid on pot and leave it alone for about 10 minutes.
Once the mushrooms ans onions are starting to cook down, mince up garlic and add in, along with the chickpeas (drained of liquid) and a few tablespoons of the vinegar. Continue to cook until the veggies are browned, the chick peas are hot, and everything tastes good (give it a taste) Lastly, add in the chopped greens and stir around until wilted.
And the oatmeal should be done. (it;s done when its nice and light and fluffy and that water has absorbed)
Grab a bowl, add a big scoop of the oatmeal, sprinkle with salt and pepper, top with a large amount of the veggie bean mixture and top with another glug of vinegar and some of those cashews all chopped up.
Grab a fork or a spoon and eat your oatmeal!