spring break

I've been a little absent because I am studying for an exam and have had a couple of guests. Expect to see me on Wednesday! (I got these daffodils at the market.) [And that's no April Fool's.]

spring cleaning

Spring sprang and I have spent the last couple of weeks using up my stores and stockpiles. It's now time to use up those winter staples and restock according to the season. It's also a good time to use up items than may sit around for awhile, even if it means buying fresh next month. 

Soup du semaine: black bean with spinach and corn bread with baked apples. Yum!

sugar is back.

Sugar is back on food labels, this time as a selling point, New York Times

what is design?

In The Mind, Geoff McFetridge

breaking ground: White House organic garden

(Illustration from New York Times)

First Lady Michelle Obama has oft mentioned a warning from the girls' pediatrician that they needed to eat a more whole and balanced diet. The Obamas soon started to eat better and the little girls lost weight. She is putting a little of her muscle behind getting America, especially the youth, to eat better and to eat local. Under the Bush administration the White House bought local organic produce, but they didn't encourage America to do the same (no word on whether they served arugula, wink!).

I'm really excited that Michelle put America's eating habits on her agenda. Metabolic disorders are skyrocketing across the country and the world. Due to my own health problems I am at a greater risk than the average American to develop metabolic disorders, including diabetes. Although I've always eaten healthily (I'm probably one of the few teenagers who came home from school and snacked on carrots and green beans on their own accord) the fear of becoming a statistic has encouraged me to watch my diet. If you want to do the same, start watching your portions (measure them at first), eat a low glycemic and high fiber diet, exercise more (walks!) and eat healthy fats. It's basically what we always hear: fats, fiber, sugar, portions and exercise!

first day of SPRING

ak-mak

Another example of packaging I love. There is something sweet about ak-mak crackers (I also LOVE their crackers ... and no weird ingredients). The godly light, the cut off cracker image, the 'price' label, the color combo, the odd proclamations that don't quite make sense (100%! whole of the wheat). Ah, the smell has made me hungry.

bouquets

I have these little bouquets scattered throughout my apartment. One in the kitchen, bathroom, bedside, and table. Sweet and cheery!

silver servers

I went to Goodwill in hopes of finding a cake stand or large platter that would fit tarts. I don't have anything that is large, flat, and moderately attractive to set a 12" tart on. I didn't find any platters that would work (I took a small tape measure), but ran across these bamboo theme serving pieces and couldn't resist. They are nothing special but I liked them and picked up the lot for $3.24.  I will have to return another day in search of a cake stand or platter.

The tart was tart.

I invited a friend over for tea on Sunday. I said I would make something special so I made this Cranberry Tart. Although cranberries are often associated with fall (it is their season) you can frequently find them in the freezer section, or freeze a couple of fresh bags in the fall for baking throughout the winter). I made a few adjustments (less sugar, a splash of rum) to the original recipe and it turned out delicious! It was fun to have a Sunday tea - I should do this more often.

Quality and Value since 1930

I have always loved the Jiffy brand mixes. They are usually good, cheap, and have great (recyclable) packaging. Grocery stores always carry them, but sometimes they are a little hidden - so look high, low, or at the end. Sadly I just read the ingredients and learned the corn muffin mix has animal lard in it (which is really only sad if you are a vegetarian) and may contain partially hydrogenated animal lard (something I avoid - therefore the sad bit). The packaging is still great and it makes a tasty muffin. I am going to enjoy this with my lentil soup. Yummy lunch!

Lentil Soup

A little bit inspired by Clara, I made this tureen of lentil soup from items in my fridge, freezer, and pantry. It is delicious and is easy to rif on depending on what you have in store. As Clara would say - this is healthy and good for you.

Lentil Soup

olive oil

1 onion, diced

4 celery stalks,thinly sliced

4 carrots, sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 red pepper, diced

1 lb. brown lentils (1 bag)

8+ c. stock and/or water

2 T. adobo sauce

1 t. thyme

salt + pepper to taste

1 c. barley

1 bunch kale, sliced

1 can diced tomatoes

1. Saute onions in a bit of olive oil until transparent. (Add chunked meat, if desired, and brown all sides before proceeding). Add celery, carrots, pepper, and garlic and stir. Cook until lightly browned. 

2. Meanwhile rinse lentils and confirm there are no stones/debris. Add lentils to pot and add stock/water. Begin to spice with adobo sauce, thyme, salt, + pepper. Boil with lid on (tilted, not fully closed) for 10 minutes. Add barley to pot. Recover. Boil for another 10 minutes. Add kale and tomatoes. Cook for another 10 minutes. Continue to taste and flavor with spices. You may need to add more stock/water throughout cooking process.

3. Serve with bread, crackers, tortillas, or pitas. Can also sprinkle with parmesan cheese. ENJOY!

Notes: When reheating, add more water because lentils and barley will continue to absorb any remaining liquid. If you are using other ingredients, adjust timing (i.e. pasta cooks quicker than barley and red lentils are quicker than brown). I used homemade pork stock (2 cups and 6+ cups water) - remember to save your bones and veggie bits in the freezer!

Cooking with Clara

I love these videos of depression cooking with Clara. I don't know if I will make any of her recipes but it is inspiring to rethink how we eat. They cooked their own bread, grew their own vegetables (and saved seeds from the veggies), and ate lots of potatoes. My grandmother, who passed away last year at age 93, served potatoes with every meal. Usually boiled in salt water. As a kid, I got in trouble for not knowing where our potato pan was (in fact we didn't have one and I still don't know what one is, but she thought it was preposterous that someone wouldn't have a potato pan). Learn more about Clara here.

Family Cookies

I made some yummy cookies the other day. I haven't had these brown sugar cookies in over a decade. The recipe was handed down to my grandmother from her mother-in-law and who knows it came from before then. The original recipe calls for lard, but I substituted butter. As a kid I was disappointed in these sugar cookies because they were not frosted and had icky nuts in them (or raisins). As a kid I didn't like that slight bitterness of nuts and really liked the super sweetness of frosting. My tastes have matured and I now find these cookies delicious (and frosted cookies too sweet). The brown sugar and the additional maple flavoring gives a nice flavor to this variation on the typical white sugar cookies.

Brown Sugar Cookies

Cream together:

1 c. brown sugar

6 T. butter

Add:

1 egg

1 t. maple flavoring (or vanilla)

Sift together:

1/4 t. salt

1/2 t. soda

1/4 t. cream of tarter

2 c. flour

Mix dry and wet ingredients together. Roll thin. Trim with nuts* + raisins (soak first) in center. Sprinkle w/ sugar before baking. Bake at 350 deg. F for 10 minutes. Cool. Yield: 40 cookies (~ 2" x 2")

* I used pecans, but my grandmother used walnut haves. 

PINK

(photograph CATERS news, via Telegraph.co.uk)

Yes, that is a pink dolphin. The albino dolphin living in an inland saltwater estuary near the Gulf of Mexico is not alone, there is a pod of pink dolphins in the Amazon. Albinism is a genetic trait.

P-I-E

I heart pie. It is my favorite desert category (not a big fan of the more bread-y cakes) and over the past month I made 3 pies: lemon meringue, french silk, banana cream. I usually make fruit pies, but wanted to expand my repertoire. The french silk (pictured above) is super decadent! 

sweet carnations

I picked up these sweet carnations when I was picking up my weekly groceries. They are a vase full of cheer and smiles in my living room.