The official, unofficial, last weekend of summer. A little sad, but not really, cause I am super pumped for fall. I have my sweaters unpacked, my knitting started, and am looking forward to eating nothing but apples and pumpkins for a while. I am ready.
Now to get through the next few days of close to 90 degree weather. (Globaly warming… you suck!)
This past week of summer has been great. We have managed to get a lot of work crap done, but also had time to do a little river hopping, have a sleep over with a few littles, and go to a family gathering. The mr, being the most bestest guy, even hand mowed out little yard so we can actually sit outside without being surrounded by 3 ft tall weeds and hay. He is so nice. We did get a chance to pick a few apples from our community garden (not sure of the variety, but they are so good!) and we played on one of the coolest,most dangerous, playgrounds around here. All in all, not a bad way to leave the summer behind.
And now it’s Sunday and I am feeling good. Going to sit around and read, knit, garden, and drink so much coffee. And best part? Tomorrow is Labor Day! Three day WEEKEND!!! so I will probably make tonight a party night and stay up past 9:30 (yes, I am an old lady) and binge watch the rest of season 1 of Playing House (fucking fantastic show) before it goes away and I don’t get a chance.
Lofty goals, but I think I can manage.
So how about you? Is this a three day weekend for you as well? Hopefully so and hopefully you are spending it doing you, and having fun, relaxing and remembering not to labor or at least not labor to hard.
Some internet stuff for you to peruse if you want.
–Another dream home/studio/camper. Why don’t I live here?
-Because I am support to live here! (This is the pretty much perfect in every way)
-Got 230K? If you do, you can buy a whole Spanish Village
-An oh so lovely home
–Writing in trees looks cool, but not something I would want to of by hand.
-Inspiration from 5 Super Organized Garages… If only
-Are you a stinky farter? Check these out! (hahaha)
-Which Hogwarts House Do You Belong In? Your Cooking Style Will Tell. I am a Ravenclaw
-So I don’t have a baby or one on the way, but when/if I ever do, I want this for baby.
-Why Are We Drawn To Heirloom Fruits And Veggies?
-A carrot cake that tastes like carrot. Because it should.
And some pictures from the past week.
Happy Weekend.. Hope your able to enjoy a long one!
-C
The past few weeks, whenever the mr and I have a free couple of hours, we have been hitting the countryside, in such of the best rivers (for me to play in and for him to fly fish)
We have been to many, but this one is my new favorite. There is shade to sit in, sun to bath in, and hiking trails to hike. There are little wading pools, deep spots that are great for fishing, and lost and lots of the most amazing rock formations. And bonus, the was not a mere person in site, only a few cute little frogs.
No matter that I think I broke the bottom of my foot walking barefoot in the water and jumping hard onto a rock, or that the mr came back with a touch of poison ivy (poison something). We still both love it and are looking forward to our next trip back with shoes and long sleeves!
You got any plans this weekend? If not, I am recommending that you hit a river. Bring a book, bring a picnic, and bring a little bucket for your river treasures. Soak up the last bits of the summer, take a break from the crazy, and just go. Trust, you will be happy you did.
Today I am going to spend the day hiding inside (it’s suppose rain all day) binge watching Top Chef, while baking as many cakes and cookies as I can. For I stumbled upon the amazing world of aquagfaba (bean water, which when whipped, act almost exactly like egg white). It’s freaking amazing and I now I must devote my life to it. (no, not really).
Other then the bean juice, this week had been good. Lots of amazing clouds in the sky, more super fresh summer veggies, bke rides, gardening, summertime fun. We really wanted to go camping this weekend, but sadly our plans fell through, which is probably a good because I really don’t think my body can survive any more bug bites. I think I might have contracted west nile from the 100 trillion bug bites that I got while strawberry picking. I also might have gotten a little poison ivy (can’t tell if its just more bug bites). Either way, my skin is destroyed and I am ready to tear it all off. Oh well, we did get to spend a day on a river where the mr fished and I played with rocks. Good times.
So today, baking with aquafaba, a little T.V, some watercolor painting, and maybe a little of that stinky pink lotion on my legs. And coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Sounds like a pretty good day to me. Hope that you out there are going to do the same (maybe not play with bean water, but have a relaxing day)
Some fun and awesome internet stuff to peruse if you are hanging around the old computer.
– This is such a great design… I want one. Tiny Footprint: A Prefab Home for Two, in 183 Square Feet by Michelle Slatalla
– How To Make Slime…. My life is now complete.
-2015’s Crime Stories Are Riddled With Hangry People . My headline would be ..”Vegan girl reverts to cannibalism. Eats boyfriends arm off while stuck in traffic on the way to the farmers market”… HAHAHA
-Are You Flossing Or Just Lying About Flossing? The Dentist Knows. Just so you know.
– J.K. Rowling Announces ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Will Hit London Stage. And of course it’s all the way in London. What about me?
– Really need to get me one of these. Camp in the Air: New Suspended Treehouse Tents and Hammocks
-Andrés Jaque’s giant water purifier unveiled in MoMA PS1 courtyard
– I am so going to be making this as soon as the chard is ready in the garden .A Genius Trick for Lighter, Smoother Hummus
Sometime the best things in life are the simplest things. For example; a walk through the woods, a really pretty smooth rock, a perfectly timed 80’s ballad song for the last push during a workout, or falling asleep on the couch and managing to not drool all over the newly washed pillows.(You know what I am talking about). I mean, can one really ask for much more?
Same goes with food. The simplest foods can really the best. Take this cashews cheese for example. All it is is soaked and blended up cashews with a bit of seasoning to cheese it up. Nothing fancy, nothing labor intensive, just straight up and straight out. You can up the greatness by adding thick cuts of fresh, sun kissed, bright and happy tomato, and a chunk of fresh bread…Not much better then that. So simple and yet so good.
And bonus. No need to turn on any heating units in order to make this cause that would suck, given that we are again having another fucking heat wave.
Agh stupid hot weather. STUPID!!!! But enough about that..
Cheese time.
The stuff. Cashews that be soakin for a while in some water, nutritional yeast (to give it that cheesy flavor), lemon, garlic, and salt and pepper. That’s for the cheese, but you are, and should, want to eat it with a large, so fresh and juicy, tomato and some kind of fresh bread situation. So you need that too!
Simple as can be. Strain cashews from soaking water and dump into a food processor with the garlic, nutritional yeast, juice of the lemon, a pinch of salt and pepper, and a little water. Turn on processor.
And it’s done when its all smooth and creamy .Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Tranfer the goodness to a lovely jar
And that’s that.. some cheese of the cashew.
But wait, you need to eat it.. Smear all over the bread situation, cut up the tomato, place big fat slabs directly onto cashew butter and spinkle with a salt and pepper.
SImply the best… Better then all the rest!
Happy today! Stay cool my friends…stay cool.
-C
makes about 1 1/2 cups of creamy, cheesy goodness
1 cup of raw unsalted cashew soaked in water for about an hour
1/2 cup fresh water
2-4 tablespoons nutrional yeast
juice of a lemon
2-3 cloves garlic (optional )
salt and pepper
And not that you have to, but having some freshy tomatoes and some nice bread to eat the cheese on is pretty fantastical.
After you cashews have been soaking for about an hour, strain water and add them and all of the other ingredients to a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Scoop into a jar.
Eat some right away on a hunk of fresh bread with lots of thick cuts of fresh tomato and place the rest in the fridge.
The cheese will get a bit thicker after being refrigerated for a while.
Use on anything , in anything, or all on it’s own. Licking jar clean is encouraged.
Hey there people! How’s it going? Good right.. cause it’s SUNDAY!
Ok, so I know that some people don’t like sundays, but me, it’s my day. The one day of the week that I try to do as little crap as possible and relax, It also means the house is spotless, the fridge is stocked, (so so so stocked..a farm share and garden explosion!) and the sheets have been changed on the bed…. I LOVE clean sheets!
This past week was for sure one of those dragging, nagging, just want it to be over type of weeks. Why? I am not exactly sure. We have had us some good time; a back to school dinner, banana ice cream cake, garden time and a few playground trips. But I think I am just feeling the pull towards fall and am just clicking the days away until we have the crisp cold days full of apple, pumpkins, cozy sweaters, and colorful leaves. Call me crazy, but I can’t wait for the warm weather to GO AWAY!
Anyway, today I am going to relax a bit. Maybe I’ll finish my book, restart my knitting (I have knitted about 3 hats and keep pulling them apart because I don’t end up liking them.. I have pattern commitment issues) or do a little more painting. (on canvas, not walls). I hope to take the mr and the pup for a little hike and of course, drink a much coffee as my heart can handle.
How about you? Got any plans for the day?
Note about picture above…. Saw the stuffed bear on a walk with the pup.. He went BATSHIT when he saw it. I don’t know how I even managed to take a picture cause he was barking like an ass at the thing…. Thats my dog.
Here is internet stuff from the week
-No more squares on Instagram. I am not going to lie, haven’t noticed
-Uh, no shit.Turns Out Sarcastic People Really Are Better at Everything
-Can You Use That In A Sentence? Dictionary Adds New Words…Awesomsauce!
-Plants all around!!!
– This house and this house
-Why isn’t this happening everywhere?Streamlined Berlin Grocery Store Creates No Packaging Waste
–If only I had a library.. These are tops!
-The Complete Guide to Gluten Free Baking. Thanks King Arthur Flour!
-Human Face Coffee Lids.. hahaha
-Indiana Brewery Is Now Making a Beer for Dogs. I know my pup would like one.
And a few pictures from the week (All taken with my I phone 4.. I kept forgetting my camera)
Not to much is going on here, just trying to enjoy the last bits of summer, while secretly saying to myself that I am ok for the hot weather to be gone, for summer to pitter out and let the cooler weather roll in. Bring on the sweaters, apples, and root veggies (and maybe a little more couch cuddling and a new tv show to sink my teeth into while knitting). And I have already noticed a few trees giving away some colorful leave. Foliage season… the best time of year (minus all the annoying leaf peepers) But before we get to ahead of ourselves, we have the other time of the year coming up.. Back to school!! I myself am not really effected by this,other then all the littles in my life are going back, which means less babysitting (happy!/Sad) And let’s not mention all the back to school supplies I am drooling over. Trapper keepers, watercolors and cool new backpacks. The kiddos are all getting ready with their new sneakers, crisp, empty notebooks, and a fancy new sweater. Me, I am just being jealous, hoping maybe one of them will give me one of their extra cool new pencils with the removable eraser. Maybe once everything ends up on clearance, I’ll buy myself a new composition notebook. You know, the ones where you can color all the white parts in with a bright pink neon marker. A customized badass notebook Those are my favorite.
So besides all that, here are some eventful things from the my life this week in list form.
got some husk cherries to make something special. and ate them all. Need to get more (more to eat, and more to make something with to share..maybe)
Starting knitting the mr his annual new winter hat (going with a grey watch cap)
Painted a ceiling gold
scratched my face on a raspberry bush
went to my family reunion, came home and found 2 white hairs on the top of my head (no joke)
Had two other awesome websites mention my recipes this week!!! (Food52 and feedfeed)
made a few jars of pickles
Discovered Reading Rainbow is now on Netflix.(my childhood right there)
Yeah, that’s about sums it up.
But here, have some internet stuff to check out.
-I think I need this entire bed set to be happy.
-And I want to do this to a set of sheet too!
-Totally into this house, especially the toilet on the door.
Not sure if this is for real, but it’t pretty freaking funny. Lady Gaga Threatening Legal Action Over Breast Milk Ice Cream Flavor ‘Royal Baby Gaga’
– I think I should get me some goats. Goats May Be Unwelcome In Zimbabwe’s Capital, But D.C. Loves Them
-The Duo Coffee Steeper. This might be fantastic.. Someone buy one and let me know how it works.
–Soothing Spaces… I like
-Watch This Hilarious Parody of Artisanal Food Makers
-I love The Purl Bee. Another project that I have to make.
And some photos from the week.
Today I am going to spend the day hiding inside (it’s suppose rain all day) binge watching Top Chef, while baking as many cakes and cookies as I can. For I stumbled upon the amazing world of aquagfaba (bean water, which when whipped, act almost exactly like egg white). It’s freaking amazing and I now I must devote my life to it. (no, not really).
Other then the bean juice, this week had been good. Lots of amazing clouds in the sky, more super fresh summer veggies, bke rides, gardening, summertime fun. We really wanted to go camping this weekend, but sadly our plans fell through, which is probably a good because I really don’t think my body can survive any more bug bites. I think I might have contracted west nile from the 100 trillion bug bites that I got while strawberry picking. I also might have gotten a little poison ivy (can’t tell if its just more bug bites). Either way, my skin is destroyed and I am ready to tear it all off. Oh well, we did get to spend a day on a river where the mr fished and I played with rocks. Good times.
So today, baking with aquafaba, a little T.V, some watercolor painting, and maybe a little of that stinky pink lotion on my legs. And coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Sounds like a pretty good day to me. Hope that you out there are going to do the same (maybe not play with bean water, but have a relaxing day)
Some fun and awesome internet stuff to peruse if you are hanging around the old computer.
– This is such a great design… I want one. Tiny Footprint: A Prefab Home for Two, in 183 Square Feet by Michelle Slatalla
– How To Make Slime…. My life is now complete.
-2015’s Crime Stories Are Riddled With Hangry People . My headline would be ..”Vegan girl reverts to cannibalism. Eats boyfriends arm off while stuck in traffic on the way to the farmers market”… HAHAHA
-Are You Flossing Or Just Lying About Flossing? The Dentist Knows. Just so you know.
– J.K. Rowling Announces ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Will Hit London Stage. And of course it’s all the way in London. What about me?
– Really need to get me one of these. Camp in the Air: New Suspended Treehouse Tents and Hammocks
-Andrés Jaque’s giant water purifier unveiled in MoMA PS1 courtyard
– I am so going to be making this as soon as the chard is ready in the garden .A Genius Trick for Lighter, Smoother Hummus
-This is Real: The Baby Cage. NOO..but YES!!!!
And some pictures from the week.
I never use to eat breakfast. Or I would drink a pot of coffee and call that my breakfast. (which still happens every now and then) But as I get older I have realized the importance of a eating a healthy morning meal.. If I eat breakfast I have more energy throughout the day. I go to the gym in the mornings and find that if I eat before or right after that I feel so much better and stronger and am less likely to have a major energy crash.. I also made breakfast a routine, where I read while I eat, which is one of my favorite parts of the day. This bowl of greatness has made me wake up hungry, to the point that sometime I go to bed excited to wake up and eat, and i’ll be honest, to drink coffee.(that’s totally not weird)
And I know, this might seem like a strange combination to some, that lentils should not be a breakfast food. But really think about it. Why not? I am a firm believe that anything healthy that provides a great amount of nourishment is good breakfast food.
This breakfast bowl is full of everything that I love. It’s backed full of proteins and all sorts of other hearhtly vitamins, minerals and antioxidants (I am not going to list everything) and is the optimal form of nourishment…. The perfect breakfast.
Still skeptical…Well don’t be because I am telling you, this is oh so tasty. Just trust.
The stuff*…. Cooked and cooled lentils, a carrot, a couple strawberries and a small apple, all chopped up. And cinnamon. Don’t forget the cinnamon.
*Note.. I always start with the lentils and carrots but will change uo the mix ins. I like peaches, blueberries, cherries, pears, roasted sweet potatoes. I’ll use pretty much whatever I have for fruit in the house. So what I am saying is use whatever you like.
Take you stuff, and pile into a bowl all nice and pretty.
Sprinkle on a spoonful of cinnamon..
This is for real, the best breakfast ever!
Start your morning right and have a great day!
-C
Between 1/2- 1 cup cooked and cooled lentils
About a cup of mix ins. (use whatever you like.. apple, pears, any type of berry, roasted sweet potato, cherries, peaches, nuts, carrots, mango)
Cinnamon
Place lentils and mix in’s into a bowl. Sprinkle on desired amount of cinnamon. Mix together and eat.
Can be made the night before so it is all ready for the morning.
Use a spoon or your fingers, Always chew with mouth.
Happy summer!! Happy Fathers Day!! Happy happy!!
Can you believe it? We are already getting toward the end of June. This is just crazy to me. I feel like I should have gotten more summer stuff done already. Aaaaaaaaah! Pulling my hair out! Whatever, it’s all cool. I’ll get there (where? not exactly sure) but I think this week was a good start. We did a little road trip to Montreal, a few good bike rides, hung out with some littles that are officially on summer vacation (again. AAAAAHHHHH), a drive to the country to collect wildflowers…. I mean, I did a good amount of awesome stuff this week. I also did a fair amount of not so much fun crap, but we don’t need to go there. All this summer talk got me thinking.. What do I want to do this summer? So I made a list
SUMMER BUCKET LIST
Hike Camels Hump (and some other mountains)
Start knitting a sweater so it will be ready for fall
Fly a kite
A kayaking Day Trip
At least one EPIC bike ride
repot all my house plants
spend a n entire day in bed (or at least at home)
Make popsicles at least once a week
Fly somewhere
go swimming in a river
Clean out the barn
A few good camping trips (can combine with #1,2,3,4,6, and 9)
Road Trip!!! (another one)
Shave my legs and get a hair cut
Every kind of berry picking
I could add a few more, but this is a good start. Do you have a summer bucket list? If so, something you got that I am missing? I am open to suggestions,
Anyway, here is what this week in internet had for me…
– I am in love and inspired by this. STUDIO TOUR: KIKI SLAUGHTER
– A Gallery of Beautifully Eclectic Living Rooms
–Yes, Coffee Can Actually Improve The Power Of Your Power Naps
-Nick and I were just listening to this TED talk. Very interesting. Shifting Time
– I love a good Horseshoe.
-This hotel room, I could live in. AN APARTMENT-LIKE HOTEL ROOM FOR THE TRAVELING PROFESSIONAL
-Your Inner-Child Will Love This Playground Decor I think I want the side.
And some pictures from the week.
The gardens looking good, no?
Sticks and farting noises make the best of times.
Weekly CSA…..so AMAZING!!!
I rode the mr’s bike for a few days after my tire popped. I liked having a basket, I felt like the wicked witch of the west.
This week started with the notion that I was going to make a big dish of potato salad. I boiled the potatoes so that they would be ready when I needed them and stuck them in a bowl in fridge. That was Sunday. Monday was super busy and I didn’t get a chance to get to the potaoes, but that was ok, I figured I would just make it the for Tuesday. (which has officially been dubbed family dinner night). But for the first time, my sister declined potatoes and said she was already making goulash, which turned out that no one really wanted to eat. (I bet they would have eaten the potato salad) And Wednesday we were in Montreal so no go there.
So last night (now Thursday) when I opened the fridge to contemplate the dinner options, I knew that whatever I was going to make, the potatoes had to be used. I could have made the potato salad that I had been planning on making all week, but the potaotes were a little on the weird side, not bad, just not the best. They needed to be cooked. Plus, I had eaten the avocados and tomatoes that I had planned on using for the potatoes so I think it just wasn’t meant to be. I was tired, so nothing to elaborate was going to happen. I wasn’t feeling like spending too much time in the kitchen cause I really wanted to bike to the garden. I already had my giant dinner salad made and the mr. was pretty hungry, so split decision.
Cheesey nacho potatoes
That mr.. he has got it made with me.
The stuff. Sliced up cold boiled potatoes, cheese, garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper. and a little bit of oil. And we need guacamole, salsa, something spicy in the form of jalapeño jam (I use it on everything!) and a bunch of fresh cilantro.
Spread the sliced potatoes on a lightly oiled baking sheet and drizzle with a tad bit more oil. Sprinkle with the spices and salt and pepper and pop those suckers into the oven.
Once the poatoes turn a golden brown and are all crispy, remove from the oven and sprinkle on the shredded cheese. Toss on a few spoonfuls of salsa, and add on the jalapeños. Pop back into the oven for another minutes or two until the cheese is all melty.
And cover the potatoes with lots of freshly chopped cilantro.
Serve with extra salsa, guacamole and if you have it, more jalapeño jam.
I was thinking that I would totally make these for my dad this Sunday, if he didn’t live all the way in Michigan. (I think it’s time to move back!!!)
Happy Friday..Have an excellent weekend!
-C
4-5 boiled potatoes the size of lemons (or 2 big ones)
1/2 to 3/4 cups shredded cheese (I used cheddar and can easily be made with vegan cheese)
heaping teaspoon garlic powder
heaping teaspoon onion powder
salt and pepper
olive oil
salsa
fresh cilantro (or if you hate it, some kind of fresh herb)*
guacamole*
jalapeños (or something spicy)*
*note.. These last three ingredients are optional, but you should definitely use them all.
Turn the oven on to 425 degrees
Thinly slice potatoes and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Drizzle with a bit more oil and sprinkle with the garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper. Stick into oven until potatoes are brown and crispy. Remove from the oven, sprinkle on the cheese, toss on the jalapeños and some globs of salsa. Place back into oven for a minutes or two or until the cheese is all melty.
Remove from oven and cover with a handful of freshly chopped cilantro.
Serve with more salsa, guacamole, and more jalapeños.
If eating all yourself, eat directly from baking sheet or if sharing, transfer onto a plates. (or eat from the baking sheet..less dishes, more conversation) Forks and fingers work equally.
It rained a lot this week, and it was fantastic. I love summer rain. I love to play in rain, I love to watch the sky turn grey and big storm clouds roll through.. Add in a little thunder and lightning.. even better. I think the only issue with I have when it rains is when it floods the basement. That and wet dog.(Washer smells like something died when he is wet)
And as usual, this week we did, we went, we came back. We took in a little for a the weekend and had the greatest of times. Puddle splashing walks, waffles, carrots, and lot and lot of gardening. But now I am tired. So today, like every Sunday, I am going to try and take a little breather and catch up on my, “me time”. And maybe I’ll get a nap in since last night I got almost zero sleep because the little and the Mr. were all cuddled up and I ended on the edge of the bed receiving a pretty aggressive kick in the back every time I was about to nod off. (She is lucky I didn’t make her sleep in a laundry basket).
Anyway, here is some internet fun from the week.
-I think this is where I am meant to go to school. Hogwarts Hops The Pond: Rowling Reveals U.S. Version Of Wizards’ School
–This DIY HANGING PLANT LAMP is cool. I want to make it.
-These are cool. Modern Minimalist Bird Houses from Twig & Timber
– This guy is amazing.. Monzter: Artist Hides Monster Murals Inside Abandoned Buildings In Berlin
– ‘Chunky Knits’ by Anna Mo. I need….
-I love this headboard
-This house… And check out the tubs next to the beds. Weird, but who am I to say
-12 OF THE BEST IN COFFEE BREWING TECHNOLOGY. Coffee stuff makes me happy.
And some pictures from the past week.
I have been meaning to make this jam for a while now. I’ll buy a bunch of jalapeños, then slowly, before I get to cooking them down, end up eating them all. But not today, and the rewards are great, Fresh jalapeño jam. So much potential for the greatest of things (I am thinking mango jalapeño sorbet… no, I am making jalapeño mango sorbet) And if you, like me are a jalapeño fan, this is going to make your life amazing. You will find yourself jamming up everything, or maybe just eating it with a spoon.
Whatever you want to do with it, just make it.
Honey and jalapeños.. All you need, well a little salt and water too, but that’s it.
What you need to do is remove the stems,, most of the ribs and half of the seeds removed. (You could remove all or none of the seeds depending on you heat preference) Chop the peppers into small chunks, toss into a pot, sprinkle with a bit of salt, add in a splash of water. Place the pot on medium heat. Top it with a lid, and give the peppers a good stir every few minutes. While the peppers are cooking, you want to make sure the bottom isn’t sticking and buringin. If that starts to happen, just turn the heat down a bit and add in a little splash more of water.
After about 20 minutes, the peppers are fully cooked and falling apart. The liquid is cooked down and the peppers are starting to caramelize on the bottom of the pan. When that happened, remove the pot from heat.
Now you can either blend the peppers, mash the peppers with a fork, or leave it chunky. Thats a choice Ill leave to you. ( I like to blend, but keep some chunks)
And drizzle in a bit o honey. As little or as much as you like.
And scoop into a jar. Eat the jam on anything you want. (I found myself eating it with a spoon)
Keep it Real!
-C
Makes about 1 1/2 cups of jam
10 large jalapeño peppers
a pinch of salt
About 1 tablespoon of honey, but add more if you like (And if you want to keep it vegan, use agave or sugar)
Wash, remove ribs and most seeds (the more seeds you leave the hotter it will be) and dice jalapenos into small chunks. Place in a pot with a few splashes of water and a sprinkle of salt. Turn on medium heat and cover, stirring every few minutes. If the peppers seem to be sticking o the pot and burning, turn heat down and add another splash of water. After about 20 minutes, the peppers should be really tender and falling apart. The liquid should be completely cooked out and the peppers will start to caramelized at the bottom of the pot. When that starts to happen, remove from heat. Now either mash with a fork, blend with a hand blender, or leave superr chunky. Drizzle in honey (or sweetener) and stir.
Eat right away or stick in a jar and store in the fridge for up to a week (It won’t last that long)
Finally, it’s safe to turn the oven back on. No more heatwave (PLEASE NO MORE!!!) Last week was such a bust of life, I still feel like I am recovering. But let’s not talk about anymore. Lets talk about this cauliflower situation that was a highlight of my week.
I have been meaning to do this for a while now. And I have attempted, I’ll have the intention, get the cauliflower and peppers, then somehow forget that I was going to cook it and just feed it to the mr raw, or he will just start eating at it and then the head is not intact anymore (He loves raw cauliflower). And sure, you don’t need to have a whole head of cauliflower to roast it and enjoy it, but come on, doesn’t it look super badass and pretty whole? And you can slices of it like you would a cake, a really yummy veggie cake. So yeah, it should be a whole head. Anyways, besides being pretty, this thing was freaking amazing. I love cauliflower, roasted cauliflower even more. Add to it some slightly sweet and cheesy pepper sauce, holy ho…I almost ate the entire thing myself. It was everything and more how I wanted it to turn out and am now forever going eat my cauliflower exactly like this (but probably not always). And the sauce…. I am going to make giant jars of it and stick it on everything. So good.
Now lets get to it.
The stuff. A whole head of cauliflower, a couple colorful peppers, nutritional yeast, garlic, lemon, salt and pepper, and a little bit of olive oil.
Start with the cauliflower, Trim away any big leaves from the bottom and stick the whole head into a oven safe pot big enough to hold it.. Add in a little water and stick on the stove top on medium heat to cook for a few minutes, just to give it a little head start.
And preheat the oven
Pre roasted, slightly streamed cauliflower goes into the oven until a nice golden brown and all pretty like.
While the cauliflower is roasting, roasted the peppers too.I place mine whole onto a lightly oiled cast iron pan* and stick into the oven.
Once the peppers are starting to char and have become soft and tender, remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes or long enough for you to handle them. When cooled enough, remove the stem, seeds and any of the skin that is coming off.
*Last year I used the same cast iron pan over and over to rasot peppes and never cleaned it, or bothered to oil it. By the end of the summer, there was a 1/2 inch thick layer of hard as rock caramelized pepper juice that I had to chip it away with a chisel… so yeah. be careful of pepper juice.
Toss the roasted peppers into a food processor along with the garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, a splsh of oil and s little salt and pepper.
And taste.. and try not to eat it all right now (It is so f ing good)
And take that sweet, so delocouis sauce and smother all over the roasted cauliflower.
If you want, stick it back into the oven for a few minutes to crust up a little bit, but not a necessary.You can call it here and go to town.
I stuck in back in the oven for a few minutes… But again, not necessary.
And now you have this giant, amazing, head of delicious cauliflower, waiting to be eaten. I recommend removing the head and sticking it on a cutting board, you know, for easier cutting, and also it looks pretty badass.
Cut into chunks and serve right away.
Goodness gracious was this thing so freaking good!
Have a fantastic day!
-C
1 fresh head of cauliflower
2 red(yellow or orange work too) peppers
2 -3 tablespoons nutritional yeast (the more the cheesier)
4-5 cloves of garlic
juice of a lemon
salt and pepper
olive oil
Take whole head of cauliflower and trim any big leaves or stem off bottom. Stick into a big oven safe pot with about 1/2 inch of water. Place a lid on pot and stick on medium heat for about 8-10 minutes, or until water has evaporated. and cauliflower is slightly tender.
Preheat oven to 425.
After the brief cook on the stove top, remove lid, drizzle cauliflower with a tiny bit of oil and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Stick into oven without the lid.
Now that the oven is on, toss peppers into oven, either on a baking sheet, pan, or on the rack if you have the space and cook until all roasted and soft (should take about 15 minutes). Remove when cooked and let cool off for a few minutes. Once cool enough to handle, remove seeds and stem and any of the skin that want to come off and stick into a food processor. Add in the garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice and a tiny drizzle of olive oil. Blend until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Once the head of cauliflower is cooked and browned, remove from oven and dump/ smear with the red pepper sauce. If you want, place back into oven for a few more minutes, or not. Good both ways.
Remove from pot and cut into big ass chunks. Garnish with something green and eat until you can’t eat anymore.
If by chance you have any left overs (which I highly doubt) try blending it up as soup. It is freaking fantastic!
Spicy, crispy cauliflower… um yes please. I really like cauliflower. The mister loves it, or at least likes it better than any other vegetable. So when he asked for spicy cauliflower, well yea I am going to make it because I am so nice and really, could I say no to a veggie request? (I might have said no if it involved deep frying) Also, I found fresh cauliflower on sale! ($2.25) I don’t usually cook fresh cauliflower, but I figured at that price, it wouldn’t be bad to cook a head. (If I am cooking cauliflower, which I do a lot, I just use frozen….casue it be waaaay cheaper)
Fresh, cheap and requested veggies….those are must makes. And the mister was happy with I handed him the plate of oh so lovely looking crispy crunchy loveliness. (I kind of like to make him happy…sometimes)
The stuff. Cauliflower, chopped and broken into pieces. Corn meal mixed with salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder, and because I made this for the mister, parmesan cheese. And in the green bowl, srirsachi and a little oil. The cauliflower gets a coat of the hot sauce and then tossed around in the corn meal mixture. Handling as little as possible, place coated pieces on a lightly oiled baking sheet and stick those suckers in the oven for about a half hour, taking them out and flipping half way.And take them out of the oven when pieces tuned golden brown, stik them on a plate, and serve immediately.
A bit of spice, a bit of crispy , a lot a yum. Serve with some crunchy veggies, maybe a squeeze of lemon and definitely some type of avocado situation.
A beer would be lovely too!
Have a fantastic weekend!
-C
Spicy Crispy baked Cauliflower
1 head cauliflower, chopped or broken into florets
1/2 cup corn meal
3-4 tablespoon sriracha or your favorite hot sauce
1 tablespoon olive or coconut oil
salt and pepper
Any seasonings you might like (garlic or onion powder, parmesan cheese, national yeast…. whatever floats your boat)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
In a bowl, mix together sriracha and oil. In a separate bowl, mix salt, pepper, any seasonings you might like, and corn meal. Take cauliflower and toss in sauce to coat. Remove from sauce and toss around in cornmeal mixture till fully coated, but try not to hand too much so the coating doesn’t come off. Place pieces on a lightly oiled baking sheet and stick into oven. Bake for about 15 minutes, remove and flip pieces. Back into the oven for another 15-20 minutes (depending on you crispy preference) Remove when golden brown (or darker if you like) and serve immediately.
Cucumber, celery, and carrots are great accompaniments.. also a little mashed avocado or guacamole is much appreciated.
I am such a sucker for the reduced price produce at the grocery store. I save at least half of the original price for stuff that might look a little weird or have a brown spot or something. Sometimes I can’t believe what ends up on in the bin, stuff that I wouldn’t consider reduced bin material, but hey, if they want to stick it in there, then I will be more than happy to buy it. A couple days ago I found some good looking roma tomatoes in that said reduced produce bin..the skins the tiniest bit wrinkled (like I could care less), least hen 50 cents a pound. Um, yea, I bought those and put them to good use.
Tomatoes roasted until they fell apart with a few other chunks of stuff, then piled onto a base of spinach and couscous. This meal cost me pennies and was stupid easy and fast to make. And pretty to boot. Perfect for a quick healthy meal on a busy day or maybe for those people looking for a tasty, not too completed dinner to make for a special someone for Valentines day? Or make just for yourself…its pretty much the perfectly dish. Anyone can get into it. And if you don’t happen to have a grocery store with a reduced produce bin full of tomatoes…it’s cool, you’ll just have to pay full price for the perfect ones.
So simple. A little olive oil in pan. Chunk the tomatoes and throw in pan with the chopped onion, carrot, cauliflower, garlic and chick peas. Drizzle a bit more oil and top with salt and pepper. Give it all a toss and stick into oven. That’s that. Just leave it in there until everything is so nice and soft and falling apart.
One of the best things about couscous is that you don’t even need to dirty a pot or a bowl to make it, just add dried couscous to the bowl you are going to eat out of with a cup of boiling water and a pinch of salt. (I added the spinach with the water too) After about 8 minutes, the couscous absorbs all the water and you just fluff it up with a fork. Easy, freaking Peasy!!! Out of the oven and piled on…..
I mean, if this isn’t one classy looking meal, then I don’t know what is.
Sprinkle with a little parmesan or nutritional yeast if you want and step back and admire. And now eat it to you face.
And barely any dishes to wash. No big mess to clean up. I could get used to that.
-C
Chunky Tomato and Stuff Couscous
Ingredients
Serves 2
3/4 cup Couscous
1 cup boiling water
Handful of chopped spinach
4-5 roma tomatoes chopped
1 medium carrot diced
Half of an onion diced
Cup or so of cauliflower (fresh or frozen)
Cup of prepared chick peas
4 or 5 cloves garlic minced
Olive oil to drizzle
Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 400
Place onion, carrot, cauliflower,tomatoes, chick peas and garlic into a large skillet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and give everything a light toss. Stick into oven for 35-40 minutes until tomatoes are falling apart and everything is nice and roasted.
In a medium bowl, (or serving bowl) add cup of boiling water to dry couscous and spinach. Sprinkle with salt and cover. Let sit for at about 8 minutes, or until the couscous had fully absorbed all the water. Fluff with a fork and top with roasted tomato stuff.
Top with parmesan or nutritional yeast if you are into it.
Enjoy!
There is a joke about Vermonters, that all we talk about is the weather. Well, it’s kind of true. But to our defense, we get a lot of weather, and it’s always changing and intense and both lovely and crazy and all over. So yeah, we talk. A lot, about the weather. And on that topic, I am trying so hard not to complain, but honestly, I am getting a little sick, both physically and mentally from all of these super, to freaking cold temperatures. Yesterday the high was 0 ( which was at like 2 in the morning) and factor in the windchill, the temp stayed at like 25 below. It f**king sucks. I can’t stay outside for too long or else I will probably die. The dog is having a hard time making it around the block before he gets ice paws, and the mister, well he even started wearing gloves (he wears a sweater all winter and never gets cold…..he is officially cold)
And not only is the cold keeping us all indoors, but its making us all borderline sick. We both have been fighting something for the past few week. The headaches, stuffy nose, chest congestions. The puppy is getting super dry skin and gave himself a hot spot. BLAh!! Ok, enough! No more complaining
Because I do really love the winter and all the pretty snow!!!!
But we are feeling kind of sick so to make us feel oh so much better, a fantastic, super tasty, healing, good for me, good for you, soup. Turmeric ginger carrot… oh man. Made with lots of ginger, turmeric and garlic and finished with a drizzle of raw honey. This soup is exactly what we need. All ingredients scream.. FEEL GOOD, BE WARM AND COZY! Almost everything in it has antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties. The veggies are hearty and heathy and just eating soup helps to keep hydrated. And the best part..it tastes so freaking amazing.
So whether you are feeling a little mah, or just a little hungry.…this soup is where it’s at!
Lots of chopped up carrots, a small onion, a little bit of cauliflower I had left over and a small beet. If you don’t have the cauliflower and or a beet, just use ares pepper or another 2 carrots.. no biggy.
Then we have the fresh ginger ( you can use powdered) turmeric and garlic. All the good healthy spicy and yummy stuff.
I accidentally spilled the turmeric on the counter..but it kind of looks like I might have done it on purpose… yeah, let’s go with that. Chop the garlic and he ginger into chunksAnd toss into the pot to warm and activate. Just a little toasty toast.
And the veggies are roasted and tender and smell so good. It took a lot of will power to not eat the whole pan right there.
I added the roasted veggies and 3 cups water straight into my pot with the spices because I used an emulsion blender. If you are using normal blender, add the veggies, the toasted spices and the water to the blender and blend until smooth. Then transfer to a pot.
Pretty much all blended together….(I left a few big chunks in there to snack on while I was waiting to eat serve…I was really hungry) and let to simmer for a little longer…
And now ladle into a bowl and get ready for a fantastic finish… drizzle a spoonful of raw honey into soup…….so so good. You could add the honey before serving, but heating it kills all the good antibacterial stuff so that’s why we wait. Then I sprinkle some chopped kale and chives. (do it if you want, but not necessary)
Now enjoy. Let the warmth wash over you and feel all those good spices helping to fight the good fight to keep you well and all the yummy to satisfy your hunger.
And lets hope for some warm (above 0!!) weather!
-C
Turmeric Ginger Carrot Soup
Ingredients
5 large carrots
1 small onion
1 small beet*
quarter head cabbage ( or a cup of frozen)*
2-3 teaspoons turmeric
2-3 tablespoons fresh ginger (1/2 teaspoon if using powdered)
4-6 cloves garlic
salt pepper
raw honey (omit if vegan)
* If you don’t have or want to use beet and or the cauliflower, you can use a red pepper, a small sweet potato, or just use a few more carrots.
Chop all veggies into similar sized chunks and toss into a lightly oiled pan or on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Stick in oven at 425 for about 30 minutes or until all veggies are fork tender.
In a large soup pot or dutch oven, toss chopped garlic, ginger and the turmeric and place on medium heat for a few minutes to activate the spices. Add the roasted veggies and 3 cups water to pot (if using emulsion blender) and blend until smooth. If using a blender, add the toasted spices, roasted veggie and 3 cups water and blend until smooth then transfer to a large pot or dutch oven. Add salt and pepper to taste. Turn heat down to simmer and let cook for an addition 10 minutes.
When ready to serve, ladle soup into bowl and drizzle a spoonful of raw honey into soup. Garnish with fresh chopped kale, chives, cabbage or whatever you want. (or nothing is good too)
I was informed yesterday that if I was going to make tortilla chips, that I better make some sweet ass dips to go with them. I kind of agree… tortilla chips need dip… or better yet, two dips. Queso and guacamole. It’s what needed to be done, and so I did it.
Guacamole is amazing… anything avocado is amazing…this guacamole is amazing. White bean guacamole is amazing. And not that we really care, but this guac is half the fat then straight up guacamole. Plus it’s packed full of protein making it a kind of super duper, must eat all of it, kind of dip. And sweet potato anything will make me happy. Making queso dip with sweet potato and cauliflower is probably one of my best food combos so far. (after eating a butt load, I felt like I was a genius and made an amazing discovery) Again, not that we need it to be, but this is also a fat-free, vegan, gluten-free, super healthy, packed full of B12, fiber and nutrients, dip for all kind of dip.…. just another reason why you cannot feel bad when you finish off half a batch before you get a chance to stick it in a serving bowl. (I might have done that)
Here is what you need for a good time:
−These tortilla chips ….Check.
−Some Chopped Veggies (I want the veggies)…..Check
−Cauliflower Sweet Potato Queso.…Check.
−White Bean Guacamole…Check.
You are now ready for it. It being this party, that party, the Super Bowl, or a Wednesday afternoon.
To the left we have the makings for the cauliflower sweet potato queso.. Steamed cauliflower, a baked sweet potato, nutritional yeast, garlic, and chopped up red onion, red bell pepper and jalapeño. To make all you need to do it take the chopped peppers, onion, and garlic and sauté for a few minutes just to slightly soften and bring out flavors. While that’s going on, take the steamed cauliflower and sweet potato(skin off..but eat it, or save it for soup or feed it to the dog) and puree together with a blender or food processor. Add in nutritional yeast, about a tablespoon or two of hot water and, salt and pepper to taste. Blend for about 5 minutes until super creamy smooth. Add in sautéed stuff and pulse just enough to incorporated the veggies but not complete blend in. Stick in a bowl.
To the right we have white bean guacamole stuff. Two cups (or one can) rinsed white beans, one ripe avocado, a lime, a few cloves of garlic,(I also added a bit of garlic powered…I like my garlic) and some chopped up red onion and tomato. Place beans, garlic, avocado and lime juice in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Add salt to taste and toss in the chopped tomato and onion. Blend for sec to mix that in…Stick in a bowl
Perfect…
To think that both of these dips took about 10 minutes total to make. (I had pre baked the cauliflower and sweet potato) And for real, I would spend much more time if I had too because both of these dips are so freaking good, I definitely will be making these on the regular.
So there , dips for those sweet ass chips or whatever you want to dip or them spread them on.
And he guys…It’s FRIDAY! Have a fantastic day!
-C
White Bean Guacamole
2 cups white beans (or 1 can) rinsed and drained
1 ripe avocado
3 cloves garlic
1 lime
1/4 small red onion
1 small tomato
1-2 teaspoons salt
Finley chop onion and tomato. Set aside. Place the beans, avocado, garlic, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt and the juice from one lime into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Add a splash of water if needed to help keep things moving. Taste and add more salt if needed. When smooth, add the onion and tomato and pulse a few times to mix in. Scoop into a serving dish and finish with a squeeze of lime and a bit of chopped onion and tomato.
Cauliflower Sweet Potato Queso
1 1/2 cups pre cooked steamed or roasted cauliflower
1 medium pre baked sweet potato
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1-2 tablespoons hot water
1/2 a small red pepper
1/4 small red onion
1 jalapeño
3 cloves garlic
salt and pepper
Finely dice the red pepper, jalapeño, onion and garlic and sauté in a skillet for a few minutes until slightly soften and fragrant. Take the pre-cooked cauliflower, sweet potato (skin removed), and nutritional yeast and place in a blender or food processor. Blend for about 5 minutes until creamy and smooth. Add in a tablespoon of water to keep things moving. When completely smooth, add in sautéed veggies and pulse a few times to combine. Scoop into a serving dish. If your feeling it, top with scallions and cracked pepper.
Serve dips with chips, veggies or anything you want. Also make great spreads for sandwiches and crackers too!
CHILI MONDAY! Well it is, but I am talking about making some super duper, yes I’ll have seconds, tummy filling, bone warming, pumpkin chili.. And heathy oh so healthy to boot. Reals, it’s the best.
This pumpkin chili recipe had evolved over the years. The first time I made pumpkin chili was for my very first dinner party that I threw back in college. Instead of cutting the pumpkin and adding it into the chili, I chopped the little pumpkins in half, roasted them, and used the halves as bowls..A good idea except no one at the pumpkin and I was left with a bunch of slobbered on roasted pumpkin halves. ( I probably should have said something, but being a few drinks in, I didn’t think to say anything about the edible bowls and I don’t think I noticed the abandoned pumpkins until the next morning). After that somewhat failed attempt, I started adding the pumpkin to the chili and left the drinking tip after the food is served. ( I learned so much in college)
But yeah, this recipe has traveled a few years with me and every time I make it, I always think, jeez, why don’t I make this every weekend. Well maybe now I will.
Don’t let this spread scare you.. it’s just veggies from the fridge, a chopped up pie pumpkin and pre soaked beans. Oh and some canned tomato and spices. It took about 10 minutes of hands on time and one big pot. No big mess to clean up and you can get rid of those veggies in the fridge that are on the way out. WIN WIN WIN!
All the chopped veggies, the chopped pumpkin go into the pot with salt. pepper , and spices.( I added a fresh jalapeno and about 5 cloves of garlic to this mixture) Let the mixture sweat for about 5 minutes, giving it a quick stir or two.
Now toss in the beans and the tomatoes… Add a cans worth of water as well. Bring to a boil, then turn to low heat and cover.
A last minute addition.. I added a few chopped up kale leaves. I wanted a little more bright color and adding kale to anything is a good idea.
I added a little sliced avocado to one of the bowls (I only had enough for one) and cut up some lime wedges to squeeze on top. (I did, Nick didn’t)
Best chili I have made in a long time…and yes, there is a bunch of left over which is fantastic because now I have lunch for the next couple days…
HOORAY FOR FOOD!!!
Have a good Monday!
-C
Pumpkin Chili
Ingredients
small pie pumpkin
2 cups dried beans..I used a 1 1/2 cups black and 1/2 cup kidney or 2 cans of beans
28 oz can of crushed or diced tomatoes
1 small onion
1 small
1 carrot
1 /4 head of cabbage
a small broccoli crown
1/4 head of cauliflower
a few kale leaves
1 jalapeño
5 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons cumin
1 tablespoon coriander
salt and pepper
Either the night before or morning of, presoak dried beans..(beans in pot with about 4 cups water and a sprinkle of salt)
Take pumpkin and slice in half, de-seed and chop flesh into little chunks. (You can peel it if you want, but really, there is no reason to) Rough chop all the veggies (minus the kale) and stick into a large pot with the pumpkin. Pot on medium heat.. let the veggies sweat for about five minutes. Now add the garlic and the spices and let cook for a few more minutes.
When the mixture starts to become fragrant… drain, rinse and add presoaked (or canned) beans. Then the tomatoes, and 1 1/2 cans worth of water.
Bring chili to a boil then cover and reduce heat to low. Let cook for about an hour, giving it a stir every now and then………
Add in chopped kale a few minutes before serving
Serve in a bowl and top with sliced lime, avocado, a sprinkle of cheese….Whatever you want.
What a way to start the day, with a mouth full of c words…….Caraway, cauliflower, chick peas and cabbage…What did you think I meant?
This week has been nippy, no, its been chilly…..nah, it’s been freaking freezing! Yeah, freezing cold. When I woke up this morning to walk the pup, it was 5 degrees. So needless to say, when it gets this cold, I like to keep inside. Tying not to be a complete lazy bones, I went to town on my spices… refilling jars with all the little baggies scattering the kitchen, screwing on lids, and wiping down the shelves. Not a bad accomplishment for a day. While cleaning I came upon a little bag or caraway seeds, Not enough to warrant a jar on the wall, but defiantly enough for one dish.
When I think of the bright, somewhat sweet and peppery caraway, I think cabbage.(anything cabbage and I am sold) A big pan cabbage, added cauliflower for the mister,(his favorite) creamy chick peas because we need protein and they be tasty, and of course mustard, because everything tastes better with mustard.(I’ll let you in on a little secret.I eat a lot of mustard, I am kind of obsessed. Mustards of all kind; grainy, homemade, dijon…but usually just plan old yellow. And I eat it on everything.. but my go to is French’s yellow mustard and carrots…don’t judge) A warm, bright and filling dish, perfect for a freezing cold evening stuck inside. You can eat it as main dish or add a pile of quinoa or wild rice, or even a big plate of greens. What ever say you eat it, you and your stomach will be happy.(If your worries about cabbage bloat..don’t be. Cooking cabbage helps breaks down the enzymes that create gas, plus caraway has anti bloating properties…WIN!)
Cabbage, cauliflower,(fresh of frozen….I used frozen in this recipe) pre-cooked or canned chick peas, caraway seeds, yellow mustard, and salt..(I added pepper too)
Chop the cabbage and toss into a lightly oiled pan with the rest of the stuff. Heat pan with everything but water for a couple of minutes.. to warm the caraway and give everything a cooking head start, then add the water. Stick a lid on it and let simmer. After about 15 minutes, give it a stir or two and do a taste test. At this point, it’s up to you…how cooked you want the veggies? I kept mine cooking for another 10 minutes. I also added another 1/2 cup of water. Not enough water and the pan will burn, a little extra water is good, it creates a yummy broth.
When you are happy with the flavor and doneness, eat it. I made myself a bowl with a heap of pickled beets(holy yes!). I am sorry if you don’t have any pickled beets, but the dish is still amazing without them. Fresh ground pepper really does the trick too!
So there you go, make it tonight, it will make you warm,smart and happy
-C
Cabbage Cauliflower and Chick Pea Braised with Caraway and Mustard
Ingredients
1/2 small head of green cabbage(about 2 cups chopped)
2 cups cauliflower(fresh or frozen)
1 cup cooked chick peas
1 1/2 -2 cups water
1 tablespoon caraway seed
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
salt and pepper to taste
Lightly oil a medium sized skillet and add all ingredients except water. Heat for a few minutes to warm up veggie and caraway seeds then add a 1 1/2 cups of water. Keep on medium heat with a lid and stir on occasion If water evaporates completely out, add another 1/2 cup. Food is do when veggies are tender.. about 20 minutes….but whenever tastes best to you!
How was your week? Was it as straight up nasty humid and gross as mine was? Stupid heat wave.. I was not impressed.
I will be the first person to admit it, that I am not my best person when the tempature rises and humidity levels get so high that it starts to creep into my soul. I go a little crazy/ crazy bitch and just am not pleasant to be around. Or maybe it’s that everyone around me is not pleasant to be around. Either way…. just not good.
And I forget things, like to pick up the farm share this week. Now I am forced to go grocery shopping to buy most of our veggies (we are still getting a good clip from the garden) until next week. And Let’s not mention the pup.. cause he is just as miserable, if not more then we are.
So to beat the heat, the mr and I found ourselves traveling around, river hopping. He fished, I stuck my feet in the water and read, did some watercoloring, or knitted. It was fantastic and probably saved a few of the lives of the people around me.
We also took my little brother and sister up to the Bio dome in Montreal for the day, which was pretty cool. And of course we didn’t leave the city without making the manditory stop at Ikea, where I got myself a nice new green jar and my sister ate not 1, but 4!!!! hotdogs, and topped it off with a dessert frozen yogurt. It was the highlight of her summer. and maybe the lowlight as well. Now that I think of it, it makes sense why she was so quite on the way home. She was in a Ikea hotdog coma.
So yeah, the heat and humidity have finally broke and we are now (hopefully) going to finish off the rest of summer with a delightfully non humid and hot, weather pattern.
And then it will be fall and we will go APPLE PICKING!!!!
Some stuff on the internet this week.
–Is coffee a vitamin? I think so.
-Finally, a fantastic spork.
-Vermont Farms Grow Some Surprising Fruits
-Pop Tart beer… Where will they stop?
–Do animals blow their noses? Good question.
-Good to know. Is washing fruit effective in reducing exposure to pesticides?
–I think I want to be a Globe Maker
-This is my house in Sweden (Someday!?!)
-And my house in San Francisco(One more to my collection)
-An NPR Story About Homemade Vegetable Broth
And pictures from the week.
For a little while now, we have been telling this lady (my little sis) we would take her to the big city up north. She had never been, (which is crazy cause we live so close) and wanted to just explore and take some pictures. So last week when she finally finished school for the summer, the mr, this lady, and I made the trip.
I guess the best way to start a little road trip is with a bowl or egg noodle covered in the smelliest teriyaki sauce ever ( it was 9 in the morning). Gross as hell, but i give her credit for creativity. This lady has a fantastic (and pretty freaking dirty) mind.
And really, what’s a trip to Montreal without stopping at Ikea. It’s like a house ware themed playground. So much tomfoolery!
The mr. wants to know, “is it really frozen yogurt, cause it’s too good to be yogurt?” The lady just wants an Ikea closer so she can eat ice cream and hot dogs all day, everyday.
The balls we plastic and full of water….and after wondering aloud if the balls ever dropped, this one fell onto my head.
Once in the city, we parked and set out on foot. The goal for the day was to walk, see some cool shit, and get a good cup of coffee. All of which we did. So after a few hours, tired, hot and sun burnt (we forgot the sunscreen), we dragged ass back to the car and drove home.
Until next time. (maybe we’ll take her to a strip club)
The past few weeks, whenever the mr and I have a free couple of hours, we have been hitting the countryside, in such of the best rivers (for me to play in and for him to fly fish)
We have been to many, but this one is my new favorite. There is shade to sit in, sun to bath in, and hiking trails to hike. There are little wading pools, deep spots that are great for fishing, and lost and lots of the most amazing rock formations. And bonus, the was not a mere person in site, only a few cute little frogs.
No matter that I think I broke the bottom of my foot walking barefoot in the water and jumping hard onto a rock, or that the mr came back with a touch of poison ivy (poison something). We still both love it and are looking forward to our next trip back with shoes and long sleeves!
You got any plans this weekend? If not, I am recommending that you hit a river. Bring a book, bring a picnic, and bring a little bucket for your river treasures. Soak up the last bits of the summer, take a break from the crazy, and just go. Trust, you will be happy you did.
Every year, the second weekend in August, the Stem family , siblings, cousins, even my 94 year old grandmother makes the trip from Easton PA, come together at, what we call, “the cabin.” (It’s more a house, but it started out as a cabin) . Its a little crazy, but such a good fun time.
This cabin, oh this place is magic. The air, the tree’s the streams, the mountains, and of course the people. It’s all the things that I love about life. Some of my earliest memories are from this place. Hanging out with my siblings, running around the meadow or through the woods. Playing in the swinging holes. My grandfather pulling taffy or making orange juice box houses with my grandmother. The giant rocking chair that my uncle made and all of us kids used to play on. So many camp fires and s mores. There are just so many memories because it’s been a part of my life, my whole life. It’s one of my favorite places in the world.
A little background on the place (what I can remember) Sometime in the late 70’s, my uncle and my grandparents bought a big chunk of land on the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere Vt. After doing some clearing of trees, they went to building a cabin. (my aunt, grandmother, and dad helped a bit too). It was amazing, but quaint. A 2 story situation with a kitchen living area and one door to get in and out. At some point my grandparent ended up selling their share to my uncle and he took over the entry of the place. Over the years my uncle, (who is a carpenter, furniture designer,design professor, and all out crazy amazing person), continured to work on the place. He has added on a kitchen, a second floor bathroom, new this, and that, but never has it once felt like a patchworker pieced together place. And now the place is more like a amazing craftsman home, with just the right touches of cabin, but with two running toilets, a beautiful kitchen, electricity and running water ( There is even internet access, which sucks, but still).It is a little gem nestled on a side of a tiny mountain in one the most beautiful places.
So an awesome cabin in the woods with a bunch of crazy, but awesome people= Stem family reunion.
Here are some pictures of the shenanigans..
This past weekend, the mr, the pup, and I grabbed our stuff, chucked it into the back of the car and took of to the wood.
We ended up in Waterbury, at Little River State Park. Campsite 77 (the last one they had available!!) And from that we think, the best spot in the park.
First things first, set up camp. which involved the mr. popping up the tent and me making coffee and setting up the table.. Just cause we are in the woods doesn’t mean we can’t have a fruit bowl, right.
Then we spend the afternoon kicking around.. Into the woods we went. This place had so many hiking trails, we just let the pup lead the wayHe usually knows where he is going.
After a long afternoon of hiking and romping, we make our way back to our outdoor home for food. Dinner consisted of potato and sweet potato, squash and onions, kale, salsa and beans. It couldn’t have been any better. We did forget plates, but no matter, we managed.
Of course we needed to take an after dinner hike to the river and swim the pup. (We think he might be part fish)
He spent about an hour fetching stick and making sure that he couldn’t possibly smell any worse.
Playing with my camera and sticks. Then off to the tent for the three of us. (holy hell did the dog smell like shit)
Another morning hike and some time spent just hanging on the river. The mr fished, the pup swam and I collected rocks.
And then we went home, washed off the filth, and assed out…Then Washer got sick, but that’s a whole other story.
Camping is the best. I could live in a tent all year long. (not really all year long.. I would surely freeze to death)
So if you are thinking of camping, I highly recommend going to Little River State Park.
-C
For a little while now, we have been telling this lady (my little sis) we would take her to the big city up north. She had never been, (which is crazy cause we live so close) and wanted to just explore and take some pictures. So last week when she finally finished school for the summer, the mr, this lady, and I made the trip.
I guess the best way to start a little road trip is with a bowl or egg noodle covered in the smelliest teriyaki sauce ever ( it was 9 in the morning). Gross as hell, but i give her credit for creativity. This lady has a fantastic (and pretty freaking dirty) mind.
And really, what’s a trip to Montreal without stopping at Ikea. It’s like a house ware themed playground. So much tomfoolery!
The mr. wants to know, “is it really frozen yogurt, cause it’s too good to be yogurt?” The lady just wants an Ikea closer so she can eat ice cream and hot dogs all day, everyday.
The balls we plastic and full of water….and after wondering aloud if the balls ever dropped, this one fell onto my head.
Once in the city, we parked and set out on foot. The goal for the day was to walk, see some cool shit, and get a good cup of coffee. All of which we did. So after a few hours, tired, hot and sun burnt (we forgot the sunscreen), we dragged ass back to the car and drove home.
Until next time. (maybe we’ll take her to a strip club)
-C
The Mr. and I went and took ourselves on a rainy day nature adventure. He did some fly fishing (worst day ever for fishing) and I did some wondering. It was fantastic. And the Mr, only lost one fly and I managed only about a dozen mosquito bites! Nature days are the best!
And then as we were leaving, the clouds broke and the sun came out. It was kind of perfect.
Finally, it’s safe to turn the oven back on. No more heatwave (PLEASE NO MORE!!!) Last week was such a bust of life, I still feel like I am recovering. But let’s not talk about anymore. Lets talk about this cauliflower situation that was a highlight of my week.
I have been meaning to do this for a while now. And I have attempted, I’ll have the intention, get the cauliflower and peppers, then somehow forget that I was going to cook it and just feed it to the mr raw, or he will just start eating at it and then the head is not intact anymore (He loves raw cauliflower). And sure, you don’t need to have a whole head of cauliflower to roast it and enjoy it, but come on, doesn’t it look super badass and pretty whole? And you can slices of it like you would a cake, a really yummy veggie cake. So yeah, it should be a whole head. Anyways, besides being pretty, this thing was freaking amazing. I love cauliflower, roasted cauliflower even more. Add to it some slightly sweet and cheesy pepper sauce, holy ho…I almost ate the entire thing myself. It was everything and more how I wanted it to turn out and am now forever going eat my cauliflower exactly like this (but probably not always). And the sauce…. I am going to make giant jars of it and stick it on everything. So good.
Now lets get to it.
The stuff. A whole head of cauliflower, a couple colorful peppers, nutritional yeast, garlic, lemon, salt and pepper, and a little bit of olive oil.
Start with the cauliflower, Trim away any big leaves from the bottom and stick the whole head into a oven safe pot big enough to hold it.. Add in a little water and stick on the stove top on medium heat to cook for a few minutes, just to give it a little head start.
And preheat the oven
Pre roasted, slightly streamed cauliflower goes into the oven until a nice golden brown and all pretty like.
While the cauliflower is roasting, roasted the peppers too.I place mine whole onto a lightly oiled cast iron pan* and stick into the oven.
Once the peppers are starting to char and have become soft and tender, remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes or long enough for you to handle them. When cooled enough, remove the stem, seeds and any of the skin that is coming off.
*Last year I used the same cast iron pan over and over to rasot peppes and never cleaned it, or bothered to oil it. By the end of the summer, there was a 1/2 inch thick layer of hard as rock caramelized pepper juice that I had to chip it away with a chisel… so yeah. be careful of pepper juice.
Toss the roasted peppers into a food processor along with the garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, a splsh of oil and s little salt and pepper.
And taste.. and try not to eat it all right now (It is so f ing good)
And take that sweet, so delocouis sauce and smother all over the roasted cauliflower.
If you want, stick it back into the oven for a few minutes to crust up a little bit, but not a necessary.You can call it here and go to town.
I stuck in back in the oven for a few minutes… But again, not necessary.
And now you have this giant, amazing, head of delicious cauliflower, waiting to be eaten. I recommend removing the head and sticking it on a cutting board, you know, for easier cutting, and also it looks pretty badass.
Cut into chunks and serve right away.
Goodness gracious was this thing so freaking good!
Have a fantastic day!
-C
1 fresh head of cauliflower
2 red(yellow or orange work too) peppers
2 -3 tablespoons nutritional yeast (the more the cheesier)
4-5 cloves of garlic
juice of a lemon
salt and pepper
olive oil
Take whole head of cauliflower and trim any big leaves or stem off bottom. Stick into a big oven safe pot with about 1/2 inch of water. Place a lid on pot and stick on medium heat for about 8-10 minutes, or until water has evaporated. and cauliflower is slightly tender.
Preheat oven to 425.
After the brief cook on the stove top, remove lid, drizzle cauliflower with a tiny bit of oil and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Stick into oven without the lid.
Now that the oven is on, toss peppers into oven, either on a baking sheet, pan, or on the rack if you have the space and cook until all roasted and soft (should take about 15 minutes). Remove when cooked and let cool off for a few minutes. Once cool enough to handle, remove seeds and stem and any of the skin that want to come off and stick into a food processor. Add in the garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice and a tiny drizzle of olive oil. Blend until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Once the head of cauliflower is cooked and browned, remove from oven and dump/ smear with the red pepper sauce. If you want, place back into oven for a few more minutes, or not. Good both ways.
Remove from pot and cut into big ass chunks. Garnish with something green and eat until you can’t eat anymore.
If by chance you have any left overs (which I highly doubt) try blending it up as soup. It is freaking fantastic!
The past few weeks, whenever the mr and I have a free couple of hours, we have been hitting the countryside, in such of the best rivers (for me to play in and for him to fly fish)
We have been to many, but this one is my new favorite. There is shade to sit in, sun to bath in, and hiking trails to hike. There are little wading pools, deep spots that are great for fishing, and lost and lots of the most amazing rock formations. And bonus, the was not a mere person in site, only a few cute little frogs.
No matter that I think I broke the bottom of my foot walking barefoot in the water and jumping hard onto a rock, or that the mr came back with a touch of poison ivy (poison something). We still both love it and are looking forward to our next trip back with shoes and long sleeves!
You got any plans this weekend? If not, I am recommending that you hit a river. Bring a book, bring a picnic, and bring a little bucket for your river treasures. Soak up the last bits of the summer, take a break from the crazy, and just go. Trust, you will be happy you did.
How was your week? Was it as straight up nasty humid and gross as mine was? Stupid heat wave.. I was not impressed.
I will be the first person to admit it, that I am not my best person when the tempature rises and humidity levels get so high that it starts to creep into my soul. I go a little crazy/ crazy bitch and just am not pleasant to be around. Or maybe it’s that everyone around me is not pleasant to be around. Either way…. just not good.
And I forget things, like to pick up the farm share this week. Now I am forced to go grocery shopping to buy most of our veggies (we are still getting a good clip from the garden) until next week. And Let’s not mention the pup.. cause he is just as miserable, if not more then we are.
So to beat the heat, the mr and I found ourselves traveling around, river hopping. He fished, I stuck my feet in the water and read, did some watercoloring, or knitted. It was fantastic and probably saved a few of the lives of the people around me.
We also took my little brother and sister up to the Bio dome in Montreal for the day, which was pretty cool. And of course we didn’t leave the city without making the manditory stop at Ikea, where I got myself a nice new green jar and my sister ate not 1, but 4!!!! hotdogs, and topped it off with a dessert frozen yogurt. It was the highlight of her summer. and maybe the lowlight as well. Now that I think of it, it makes sense why she was so quite on the way home. She was in a Ikea hotdog coma.
So yeah, the heat and humidity have finally broke and we are now (hopefully) going to finish off the rest of summer with a delightfully non humid and hot, weather pattern.
And then it will be fall and we will go APPLE PICKING!!!!
Some stuff on the internet this week.
–Is coffee a vitamin? I think so.
-Finally, a fantastic spork.
-Vermont Farms Grow Some Surprising Fruits
-Pop Tart beer… Where will they stop?
–Do animals blow their noses? Good question.
-Good to know. Is washing fruit effective in reducing exposure to pesticides?
–I think I want to be a Globe Maker
-This is my house in Sweden (Someday!?!)
-And my house in San Francisco(One more to my collection)
The official, unofficial, last weekend of summer. A little sad, but not really, cause I am super pumped for fall. I have my sweaters unpacked, my knitting started, and am looking forward to eating nothing but apples and pumpkins for a while. I am ready.
Now to get through the next few days of close to 90 degree weather. (Globaly warming… you suck!)
This past week of summer has been great. We have managed to get a lot of work crap done, but also had time to do a little river hopping, have a sleep over with a few littles, and go to a family gathering. The mr, being the most bestest guy, even hand mowed out little yard so we can actually sit outside without being surrounded by 3 ft tall weeds and hay. He is so nice. We did get a chance to pick a few apples from our community garden (not sure of the variety, but they are so good!) and we played on one of the coolest,most dangerous, playgrounds around here. All in all, not a bad way to leave the summer behind.
And now it’s Sunday and I am feeling good. Going to sit around and read, knit, garden, and drink so much coffee. And best part? Tomorrow is Labor Day! Three day WEEKEND!!! so I will probably make tonight a party night and stay up past 9:30 (yes, I am an old lady) and binge watch the rest of season 1 of Playing House (fucking fantastic show) before it goes away and I don’t get a chance.
Lofty goals, but I think I can manage.
So how about you? Is this a three day weekend for you as well? Hopefully so and hopefully you are spending it doing you, and having fun, relaxing and remembering not to labor or at least not labor to hard.
Some internet stuff for you to peruse if you want.
–Another dream home/studio/camper. Why don’t I live here?
-Because I am support to live here! (This is the pretty much perfect in every way)
-Got 230K? If you do, you can buy a whole Spanish Village
-An oh so lovely home
–Writing in trees looks cool, but not something I would want to of by hand.
-Inspiration from 5 Super Organized Garages… If only
-Are you a stinky farter? Check these out! (hahaha)
-Which Hogwarts House Do You Belong In? Your Cooking Style Will Tell. I am a Ravenclaw
-So I don’t have a baby or one on the way, but when/if I ever do, I want this for baby.
-Why Are We Drawn To Heirloom Fruits And Veggies?
-A carrot cake that tastes like carrot. Because it should.
And some pictures from the past week.
Happy Weekend.. Hope your able to enjoy a long one!
-C
The past few weeks, whenever the mr and I have a free couple of hours, we have been hitting the countryside, in such of the best rivers (for me to play in and for him to fly fish)
We have been to many, but this one is my new favorite. There is shade to sit in, sun to bath in, and hiking trails to hike. There are little wading pools, deep spots that are great for fishing, and lost and lots of the most amazing rock formations. And bonus, the was not a mere person in site, only a few cute little frogs.
No matter that I think I broke the bottom of my foot walking barefoot in the water and jumping hard onto a rock, or that the mr came back with a touch of poison ivy (poison something). We still both love it and are looking forward to our next trip back with shoes and long sleeves!
You got any plans this weekend? If not, I am recommending that you hit a river. Bring a book, bring a picnic, and bring a little bucket for your river treasures. Soak up the last bits of the summer, take a break from the crazy, and just go. Trust, you will be happy you did.
Every year, the second weekend in August, the Stem family , siblings, cousins, even my 94 year old grandmother makes the trip from Easton PA, come together at, what we call, “the cabin.” (It’s more a house, but it started out as a cabin) . Its a little crazy, but such a good fun time.
This cabin, oh this place is magic. The air, the tree’s the streams, the mountains, and of course the people. It’s all the things that I love about life. Some of my earliest memories are from this place. Hanging out with my siblings, running around the meadow or through the woods. Playing in the swinging holes. My grandfather pulling taffy or making orange juice box houses with my grandmother. The giant rocking chair that my uncle made and all of us kids used to play on. So many camp fires and s mores. There are just so many memories because it’s been a part of my life, my whole life. It’s one of my favorite places in the world.
A little background on the place (what I can remember) Sometime in the late 70’s, my uncle and my grandparents bought a big chunk of land on the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere Vt. After doing some clearing of trees, they went to building a cabin. (my aunt, grandmother, and dad helped a bit too). It was amazing, but quaint. A 2 story situation with a kitchen living area and one door to get in and out. At some point my grandparent ended up selling their share to my uncle and he took over the entry of the place. Over the years my uncle, (who is a carpenter, furniture designer,design professor, and all out crazy amazing person), continured to work on the place. He has added on a kitchen, a second floor bathroom, new this, and that, but never has it once felt like a patchworker pieced together place. And now the place is more like a amazing craftsman home, with just the right touches of cabin, but with two running toilets, a beautiful kitchen, electricity and running water ( There is even internet access, which sucks, but still).It is a little gem nestled on a side of a tiny mountain in one the most beautiful places.
So an awesome cabin in the woods with a bunch of crazy, but awesome people= Stem family reunion.
Here are some pictures of the shenanigans..
This past week my dad has been in town to spend some time with the family. Besides going about my normal life, every day I have been with at least one, if not a bunch of my siblings and or father (Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!). Spending as much time as I have with them this week has made me realize how much I love them, and how crazy they are. I am happy to have spent all this time with everybody, but am very much excited to have a day to myself, because again, they are all f ing crazy.
But today is not a reclusive day.
Today is our annual Stem family reunion. We all get together, immediate and extended, at my uncles cabin, up in the sticks of Vermont and gossip, hike around, eat, and try not to drive our 94 year old grams completely cray. It’s one of the highlights of my summer.
So now, before heading out, I am trying to figure out what exactly I have for ingredients to throw together some type of peach situation… so I gots to get to that. And of course the coffee. I need the coffee, and lots of it.
Hope you folks are living up the end of summer!!!
Here is some internet fun stuff.
-This is so great I want to draw on my walls now
-The world we live in. Could Sexting Help Your Relationship?
– I love these cabins, the pictures are beautiful
-Another place I could totally live in
– Why is the world so beautiful.A theoretical physicist searches for the design behind nature’s beauty.
–These or these I can’t decide
-I love maps. Lithuanian Artist Makes Incredibly Detailed Paper Cuts Of City Maps
-Only in VT. One Vermont Ballet Group Is Mixing Dance With Cows In ‘Farm To Ballet’
And some pictures from the week
Can you believe it… August already. What the what?
I was in the great big Coscto store this week and saw Halloween costumes and I am pretty sure there was some Christmas shit too. (I wasn’t about to look to closely and fall down that rabbit hole) I mean, jeeze, It’s still summer and I like to think that I live a little more in the somewhat present moment. I have a hard time figuring out what I am going to be doing in 2 weeks, let alone 2 months from now. But man, seeing that stuff really sent me into a time whirl… It’s just flying by so fast.
Anyway, August. One of my favorite months of the year. The farm shares are gigantic (I got corn and watermelons at the last pick up!) and the garden is bursting with so many goodies. The days are still really warm, but the nights are starting to cool off, The wild flowers are in abundance all over. Plus my Dad always comes back to Vermont in August for a long visit (he;s here now!), which means lots of family stuff, a Stem family reunion, lots of hiking, and of course lots of food eating. And it’s getting close to back to school time. The littles are all getting equally exctited/depressed about the going back. I am kind of excited for them to go back too!
My goal for August.. try to check off some more of my summer bucket list and also try to buy some plane tickets to a far away land.( I hear that tickets prices this month are at the lowest they have been in years!) At the same time I want to try not to worry to much about doing a bunch of stuff.. just try to enjoy what’s left of the summer. No pressure!
So what about you? Got any end of summer plans?
I’ll leave you with some good internet stuff from the week.
-I know I have said this before, but this is the house I am meant to live in.
-Cocoon in a tree!?!!…but where do you pee?
–Get it here…IKEA 2016 CATALOG!
-I love a good tub. The World’s Most Beautiful Bathtubs
–Whoa. How Birds See Our World
-This wood is so pretty.
–Different types of summer squash
-I am a plant whore so this makes me happy. A Plethora of Plants in Every Room
-Oh to be one of these littles… The Kids of Burning Man
And hiking and bee pictures from the week
Be Happy and enjoy the rest of the weekend!
-C
Let’s just say that that the mr and I had a long ass week. 7 days (and some nights) of 2 of the coolest littles. We are pretty f*ing tired, but what a fun week we had.
Our week of advetures included going to Montpelier and having a picnic/stick fight on the State building lawn. Thrift store shopping and bean and flower picking at the farm. We watched a field hockey game and picked up my sister from summer camp. There was also a lot of hiking, river wadding, and rock hunting. Watercolors and crayons have been used on a daily bases and every clean sheet was used to make a sleeping fort up in the loft. And the food. The amount of food these kids can consume is impressive. I made pancakes more this week then I have in the past year (I shit you not, Judah, the little guy, he at 9!!! in one sitting) and lets just say my toilet is inserious need of some cleaning ( 5 year old boy with no aim.. I have sat in a lot of pee)
So much fun, but today no littles. Today I shut my door, turn off my phone, and hide from the world….and catch up on that stack of paper and bills that I have been pushing aside this week. (BLAH) And maybe a few other goals; toilet cleaning, laundry, mopping (everything is dirty and sticky!) Also going to try and spend a little time with the pup. (he gets so jealous when he isn’t the center of attention) And maybe even spend a little time sitting alone, grown up drink in hand, enjoying a bit of quite time…. Maybe.
Interent stuff that I have been browsing this week (usually while the littles get tv time and watchi the disney channel.. not cool disney, annoying disney.)
–Lavender fields. so pretty.
-This makes my heart happy. Maddie The Coonhound
-I am all about doing this.Look Up: Wallpaper on the Ceiling
–This tree is crazy cool.
–How An 11-Year-Old Boy Invented The Popsicle
-My new want for my feet. Mahabis Slippers.
-What are our wisdom teeth doing there, and why do we need to pull them out?
-Vegetarian Fast-Food Restaurant…Uh duh.
–These murals are pretty sweet.
-Small Kitchen Ideas: How to Maximize Storage in a Minimal Kitchen
–New house for me.
-And this is where I should work
And some pictures of the adventures we had.
Have a fantastic day!!!
-C
Hey there party people…It’s Sunday! Hopefully you all have some good plans for the day. Me, well I have a peanut butter and jelly lunch date at the park with some littles, a butt load of plants to stick into the ground, and hopefully drinking much to much coffee while basking in the glow of the very lovely world. (which has been on point all week with warm weather, sunny days, splashed with the perfect moments of rain) Everything is so green and lush and freshy, it’s hard to not to be full of happy and the feeling that anything is possible. It’s fantastical! Oh, and I got to give a shout out to my big sister for graduating from nursing school this week…Whoa HOO!!!!! (Does she realize she is from a family of hypochondriacs? Texting nurse Shannon……she is screwed.)
Summer here we come…It’s GO TIME!
Internet links from the week……
-Going to be making myself one of these this weekRail Road Totes.
-I could see doing somethinglike thiswith my family… If I didn’t kill them first.
-Interesting….What If Americans Ate Like South Africans And Vice Versa?
-I have felt like popping a few balls in my time.The Good Listener: Can I Deflate The Beach Balls At Concerts?
-My next project/living arrangement? (Hey, if we can live in a tiny room now, we can live in a tiny room on wheels)… The Vintage Nugget
-I can’ t believe this show was canceled, but thank the tv gods for Hulu….Hulu Saves The Mindy Project
-I am into all of these interiors atFrenchyfancy…..I wish I knew how to read french and wish I was that fancy.
A few pictures from the week….
The prettiest tree. LILACS!!!!!My yard these days..A wheel barrel full of strawberry plants. Pretty in purple
The mister and I harvested a frame of honey…So pretty
Have a great today!
-C
What a week. It was my birthday, which if you know me, is not usually something I like to talk about. I’m not sure exactly why, but I am not really big on celebrating my own birthday. Or its more like I hide away from everyone around my birthday. ( I am not good with attention) But this year I tried. I had a couple little dinners with family, went on a few good hikes, gave the dog a bath (had to mention it because it was so needed and I was so happy to have a cleaner, less smelly dog..which lasted all of about 12 hours) and tried to relax and enjoy myself. The mister and I also did a bunch of little house repair projects that have been needed to be done (Birthday wish list). All and all, I had a good week. And now the birthday week is over and we can get back to normal, not bugging me, hectic, crazy, life. That makes me happy. Here are a few of my happy bits from the big week.
A birthday bouquet of veggies. My lover knows me oh so well.
I went to get myself a new skien if yarn and stumbled upon this wall display of sprinkles.. It took a lot to not buy a bunch.
Every year I buy myself some special food for my birthday week. This is the bulk section at the local coop. They got in a bunch of new local dried beans!!!! Local birthday week beans. ( yes, beans make me happy)
This hike was pretty treacherous, the whole trail was covered in this ice…. but look how cool it is.
Huggable mountains
Birthday hike with big trees and a happy dog.
Split peas with tons of purple cabbage and purple onions plus chunks or bright orange carrots.. So freaking pretty and so freaking tasty!
And last but not least..a throw back that made me smile…Moving day last summer. Our truck full of my house plants. I love my plants.
So now we go onto the last week of January! (holy crap, where has the time go?)
Spicy, crispy cauliflower… um yes please. I really like cauliflower. The mister loves it, or at least likes it better than any other vegetable. So when he asked for spicy cauliflower, well yea I am going to make it because I am so nice and really, could I say no to a veggie request? (I might have said no if it involved deep frying) Also, I found fresh cauliflower on sale! ($2.25) I don’t usually cook fresh cauliflower, but I figured at that price, it wouldn’t be bad to cook a head. (If I am cooking cauliflower, which I do a lot, I just use frozen….casue it be waaaay cheaper) 
The stuff. Cauliflower, chopped and broken into pieces. Corn meal mixed with salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder, and because I made this for the mister, parmesan cheese. And in the green bowl, srirsachi and a little oil. 
The cauliflower gets a coat of the hot sauce and then tossed around in the corn meal mixture. Handling as little as possible, place coated pieces on a lightly oiled baking sheet and stick those suckers in the oven for about a half hour, taking them out and flipping half way.
And take them out of the oven when pieces tuned golden brown, stik them on a plate, and serve immediately.
I am such a sucker for the reduced price produce at the grocery store. I save at least half of the original price for stuff that might look a little weird or have a brown spot or something. Sometimes I can’t believe what ends up on in the bin, stuff that I wouldn’t consider reduced bin material, but hey, if they want to stick it in there, then I will be more than happy to buy it. A couple days ago I found some good looking roma tomatoes in that said reduced produce bin..the skins the tiniest bit wrinkled (like I could care less), least hen 50 cents a pound. Um, yea, I bought those and put them to good use. 
So simple. A little olive oil in pan. Chunk the tomatoes and throw in pan with the chopped onion, carrot, cauliflower, garlic and chick peas. Drizzle a bit more oil and top with salt and pepper. Give it all a toss and stick into oven. That’s that. Just leave it in there until everything is so nice and soft and falling apart.
One of the best things about couscous is that you don’t even need to dirty a pot or a bowl to make it, just add dried couscous to the bowl you are going to eat out of with a cup of boiling water and a pinch of salt. (I added the spinach with the water too) After about 8 minutes, the couscous absorbs all the water and you just fluff it up with a fork. Easy, freaking Peasy!!! 
Out of the oven and piled on…..
I mean, if this isn’t one classy looking meal, then I don’t know what is.
There is a joke about Vermonters, that all we talk about is the weather. Well, it’s kind of true. But to our defense, we get a lot of weather, and it’s always changing and intense and both lovely and crazy and all over. So yeah, we talk. A lot, about the weather. And on that topic, I am trying so hard not to complain, but honestly, I am getting a little sick, both physically and mentally from all of these super, to freaking cold temperatures. Yesterday the high was 0 ( which was at like 2 in the morning) and factor in the windchill, the temp stayed at like 25 below. It f**king sucks. I can’t stay outside for too long or else I will probably die. The dog is having a hard time making it around the block before he gets ice paws, and the mister, well he even started wearing gloves (he wears a sweater all winter and never gets cold…..he is officially cold)
I accidentally spilled the turmeric on the counter..but it kind of looks like I might have done it on purpose… yeah, let’s go with that. Chop the garlic and he ginger into chunks
And toss into the pot to warm and activate. Just a little toasty toast. 
And the veggies are roasted and tender and smell so good. It took a lot of will power to not eat the whole pan right there.
I added the roasted veggies and 3 cups water straight into my pot with the spices because I used an emulsion blender. If you are using normal blender, add the veggies, the toasted spices and the water to the blender and blend until smooth. Then transfer to a pot.
Pretty much all blended together….(I left a few big chunks in there to snack on while I was waiting to eat serve…I was really hungry) and let to simmer for a little longer…
I was informed yesterday that if I was going to make tortilla chips, that I better make some sweet ass dips to go with them. I kind of agree… tortilla chips need dip… or better yet, two dips. Queso and guacamole. It’s what needed to be done, and so I did it.
Perfect…
To think that both of these dips took about 10 minutes total to make. (I had pre baked the cauliflower and sweet potato) And for real, I would spend much more time if I had too because both of these dips are so freaking good, I definitely will be making these on the regular.
CHILI MONDAY! Well it is, but I am talking about making some super duper, yes I’ll have seconds, tummy filling, bone warming, pumpkin chili.. And heathy oh so healthy to boot. Reals, it’s the best.
Don’t let this spread scare you.. it’s just veggies from the fridge, a chopped up pie pumpkin and pre soaked beans. Oh and some canned tomato and spices. It took about 10 minutes of hands on time and one big pot. No big mess to clean up and you can get rid of those veggies in the fridge that are on the way out. WIN WIN WIN!
All the chopped veggies, the chopped pumpkin go into the pot with salt. pepper , and spices.( I added a fresh jalapeno and about 5 cloves of garlic to this mixture) Let the mixture sweat for about 5 minutes, giving it a quick stir or two.
Now toss in the beans and the tomatoes… Add a cans worth of water as well. Bring to a boil, then turn to low heat and cover.
A last minute addition.. I added a few chopped up kale leaves. I wanted a little more bright color and adding kale to anything is a good idea.
I added a little sliced avocado to one of the bowls (I only had enough for one) and cut up some lime wedges to squeeze on top. (I did, Nick didn’t) 
Best chili I have made in a long time…and yes, there is a bunch of left over which is fantastic because now I have lunch for the next couple days… 
What a way to start the day, with a mouth full of c words…….Caraway, cauliflower, chick peas and cabbage…What did you think I meant?
Cabbage, cauliflower,(fresh of frozen….I used frozen in this recipe) pre-cooked or canned chick peas, caraway seeds, yellow mustard, and salt..(I added pepper too)
Chop the cabbage and toss into a lightly oiled pan with the rest of the stuff. Heat pan with everything but water for a couple of minutes.. to warm the caraway and give everything a cooking head start, then add the water. Stick a lid on it and let simmer.
After about 15 minutes, give it a stir or two and do a taste test. At this point, it’s up to you…how cooked you want the veggies? I kept mine cooking for another 10 minutes. I also added another 1/2 cup of water. Not enough water and the pan will burn, a little extra water is good, it creates a yummy broth.
When you are happy with the flavor and doneness, eat it. 
I made myself a bowl with a heap of pickled beets(holy yes!). I am sorry if you don’t have any pickled beets, but the dish is still amazing without them. Fresh ground pepper really does the trick too!
A birthday bouquet of veggies. My lover knows me oh so well.
Every year I buy myself some special food for my birthday week. This is the bulk section at the local coop. They got in a bunch of new local dried beans!!!! Local birthday week beans. ( yes, beans make me happy)
This hike was pretty treacherous, the whole trail was covered in this ice…. but look how cool it is. 
Huggable mountains
Split peas with tons of purple cabbage and purple onions plus chunks or bright orange carrots.. So freaking pretty and so freaking tasty!
And last but not least..a throw back that made me smile…Moving day last summer. Our truck full of my house plants. I love my plants.
THE LOVELY CRAZY
September 8, 2015 by maximios • Blog
The official, unofficial, last weekend of summer. A little sad, but not really, cause I am super pumped for fall. I have my sweaters unpacked, my knitting started, and am looking forward to eating nothing but apples and pumpkins for a while. I am ready.
Now to get through the next few days of close to 90 degree weather. (Globaly warming… you suck!)
This past week of summer has been great. We have managed to get a lot of work crap done, but also had time to do a little river hopping, have a sleep over with a few littles, and go to a family gathering. The mr, being the most bestest guy, even hand mowed out little yard so we can actually sit outside without being surrounded by 3 ft tall weeds and hay. He is so nice. We did get a chance to pick a few apples from our community garden (not sure of the variety, but they are so good!) and we played on one of the coolest,most dangerous, playgrounds around here. All in all, not a bad way to leave the summer behind.
And now it’s Sunday and I am feeling good. Going to sit around and read, knit, garden, and drink so much coffee. And best part? Tomorrow is Labor Day! Three day WEEKEND!!! so I will probably make tonight a party night and stay up past 9:30 (yes, I am an old lady) and binge watch the rest of season 1 of Playing House (fucking fantastic show) before it goes away and I don’t get a chance.
Lofty goals, but I think I can manage.
So how about you? Is this a three day weekend for you as well? Hopefully so and hopefully you are spending it doing you, and having fun, relaxing and remembering not to labor or at least not labor to hard.
Some internet stuff for you to peruse if you want.
–Another dream home/studio/camper. Why don’t I live here?
-Because I am support to live here! (This is the pretty much perfect in every way)
-Got 230K? If you do, you can buy a whole Spanish Village
-An oh so lovely home
–Writing in trees looks cool, but not something I would want to of by hand.
-Inspiration from 5 Super Organized Garages… If only
-Are you a stinky farter? Check these out! (hahaha)
-Which Hogwarts House Do You Belong In? Your Cooking Style Will Tell. I am a Ravenclaw
-So I don’t have a baby or one on the way, but when/if I ever do, I want this for baby.
-Why Are We Drawn To Heirloom Fruits And Veggies?
-A carrot cake that tastes like carrot. Because it should.
And some pictures from the past week.
Happy Weekend.. Hope your able to enjoy a long one!
-C
The past few weeks, whenever the mr and I have a free couple of hours, we have been hitting the countryside, in such of the best rivers (for me to play in and for him to fly fish)
We have been to many, but this one is my new favorite. There is shade to sit in, sun to bath in, and hiking trails to hike. There are little wading pools, deep spots that are great for fishing, and lost and lots of the most amazing rock formations. And bonus, the was not a mere person in site, only a few cute little frogs.
No matter that I think I broke the bottom of my foot walking barefoot in the water and jumping hard onto a rock, or that the mr came back with a touch of poison ivy (poison something). We still both love it and are looking forward to our next trip back with shoes and long sleeves!
You got any plans this weekend? If not, I am recommending that you hit a river. Bring a book, bring a picnic, and bring a little bucket for your river treasures. Soak up the last bits of the summer, take a break from the crazy, and just go. Trust, you will be happy you did.
Today I am going to spend the day hiding inside (it’s suppose rain all day) binge watching Top Chef, while baking as many cakes and cookies as I can. For I stumbled upon the amazing world of aquagfaba (bean water, which when whipped, act almost exactly like egg white). It’s freaking amazing and I now I must devote my life to it. (no, not really).
Other then the bean juice, this week had been good. Lots of amazing clouds in the sky, more super fresh summer veggies, bke rides, gardening, summertime fun. We really wanted to go camping this weekend, but sadly our plans fell through, which is probably a good because I really don’t think my body can survive any more bug bites. I think I might have contracted west nile from the 100 trillion bug bites that I got while strawberry picking. I also might have gotten a little poison ivy (can’t tell if its just more bug bites). Either way, my skin is destroyed and I am ready to tear it all off. Oh well, we did get to spend a day on a river where the mr fished and I played with rocks. Good times.
So today, baking with aquafaba, a little T.V, some watercolor painting, and maybe a little of that stinky pink lotion on my legs. And coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Sounds like a pretty good day to me. Hope that you out there are going to do the same (maybe not play with bean water, but have a relaxing day)
Some fun and awesome internet stuff to peruse if you are hanging around the old computer.
– This is such a great design… I want one. Tiny Footprint: A Prefab Home for Two, in 183 Square Feet by Michelle Slatalla
– How To Make Slime…. My life is now complete.
-2015’s Crime Stories Are Riddled With Hangry People . My headline would be ..”Vegan girl reverts to cannibalism. Eats boyfriends arm off while stuck in traffic on the way to the farmers market”… HAHAHA
-Are You Flossing Or Just Lying About Flossing? The Dentist Knows. Just so you know.
– J.K. Rowling Announces ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Will Hit London Stage. And of course it’s all the way in London. What about me?
– Really need to get me one of these. Camp in the Air: New Suspended Treehouse Tents and Hammocks
-Andrés Jaque’s giant water purifier unveiled in MoMA PS1 courtyard
– I am so going to be making this as soon as the chard is ready in the garden .A Genius Trick for Lighter, Smoother Hummus
-This is Real: The Baby Cage. NOO..but YES!!!!
And some pictures from the week.