tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73507629648157520822024-03-12T18:37:55.350-07:00The SassyChikenA hodgepodge of life, food, wholistic health/herbalism, poopie diapers, urban homesteading, and God. Not necessarily in that order.Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-9358667922595555552013-10-07T08:53:00.000-07:002013-10-07T08:53:02.506-07:00Ah HA!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I had a wonderful “ah ha!” moment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a few days ago at the store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had been browsing the section where they have spray oils for pans and
dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, most of them are
unhealthy oils like canola (baaaad).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are a few that are supposedly made with olive oil, but in reality,
many them contained a blend of oils that just happened to include olive
oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or if they were truly made of
olive oil, they had other ingredients like Soy Lecithin, Dimethyl Silicone<span class="apprlink"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a>, and some mystery ingredient
referred to as propellant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These may
not be the worst things to add, but why use what we don’t need?</span></div>
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<span class="apprlink">And yes, the obvious answer to this is,
“Get your fingers messy and spread out some darn butter” or “drizzle your own olive
oil”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But sometimes you just want to spray and GO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have two children, so yes, I approve of
shortcuts when I can find them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides
that, butter-laden fingers aren’t always the best option when the Toddler Tornado is
trying to swing on the living room curtains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I digress.</span></div>
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<span class="apprlink">There were a couple of sprays that were
about as pure olive oil as you could get, but the price!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five dollars for a can of spray!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know how much oil is actually in there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s pressurized to make it shoot out but
there is a very small amount of oil contained in those cans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://sassychiken.blogspot.com/2013/10/can-we-talk-real-food-real-life-and.html">And $5 is a dozen pastured eggs… or a latte.</a></span></div>
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<span class="apprlink">Then came my “ah ha” moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being an herbalist-in-training, I have
dozens of lovely little bottles with droppers and droppers, sprays and pour-ers
(?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not just fill a small spray
bottle up with regular olive oil and leave it out on the counter for times
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Voila!</span></div>
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<span class="apprlink">Simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inexpensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Refillable.</span></div>
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<span class="apprlink">To save a little more money, you could
always fill this with “light” deflowered (non-virgin) olive oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always keep some cheap olive oil on hand
for when my hubby makes pancakes and waffles or other manly mystery projects;
because getting the man to take a moment to melt down coconut oil is an
impossibility and I don’t let him near my good olive oil.</span></div>
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<span class="apprlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">So there you go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Budget AND health tip all in one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just for you dear readers.</span></span>
Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-4287450368629558792013-10-06T19:46:00.003-07:002013-10-06T19:46:55.316-07:00Brain Cloud & OlivesI really wanted to write something profound tonight.<br />
<br />
Both children are asleep at the same time.<br />
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I'm caught up in my school work (for now).<br />
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The hubby is working on his own computer. <br />
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The house is quiet.<br />
<br />
PERFECT time to write. And I've had all sorts of things I want to write about in my head the last few days without having the time and space to do so...but now... when it is still and peaceful... I have brain cloud. <br />
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BUT... we always have time for a pretty food picture! ;-)<br />
<br />
I had to use some fresh olives for a recipe the other day and had a few leftover. Now, leftover olives last about as along as leftover wine at this house (I hear rumors of this existing in some households). So while cleaning up the kitchen I decided to place a little pinch of feta cheese into each olive half and nibble away between dishes and suds. YUM!<br />
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<br />Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-26704018373212630622013-10-02T11:20:00.000-07:002013-10-02T11:20:31.810-07:00Can We Talk? Real Food / Real LIFE and Economics<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Warning: Rated R for Rant</div>
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Years ago, the pastor of my church used to have this
catchphrase that he would incorporate into his sermons, “Can we talk?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would inevitably use this whenever he
had something deep and meaningful to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He would lean forward slightly into the pulpit, drop his voice and
almost whisper, “Can we talk?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
bit of a performance shtick to be sure, but it was effective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Pavlov’s dogs we would lean forward as
well, waiting to hear something profound and meaningful.
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Can we talk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eating
healthy is expensive.</div>
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No matter how you define “healthy” for yourself, it’s almost
always going to be more expensive than what you were doing before.</div>
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One exception… sort of… I remember watching the fantastic
documentary Food, Inc as they interviewed this Latino family in
California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After showing this family
chowing down on a massive dinner of fast food, the doc then showed them
perusing the produces aisles of a store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They complained that vegetables and fruits were too expensive to
eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say poppycock to that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the amount they spent on their rather
disgusting looking fast food dinner, I could cook a healthy meal for them with vegetables
and even a little side meat.</div>
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Now I’m not blaming them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These are hard lessons to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At one point they are pointing out how expensive a vegetable is and how
little they could purchase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t
understand that a little bit of this and that puts together a great dish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t understand that a little healthy
goes a long way, this is a concept that takes time to learn.</div>
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So no, I think when we really analyze costs, we can all
agree it is cheaper to cook than to purchase fast food or dine out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s not what I’m talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m talking about canned soup, ramen
noodles, mystery helper, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I shop
the store, I have come to the realization that there is no question – it is
cheaper to buy and “cook” with junk than it is to cook absolutely from scratch
from fresher, healthier options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
this should come as no surprise – the premade stuff is loaded with cheap
fillers that lower the cost of this phood (phony food – phood). </div>
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And, just to be perfectly clear, I’m not even talking about
the next level up – organic, pasture-raised, antibiotic/hormone free, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just talking real food as opposed to
phood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Phood is cheaper.</div>
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Why am I ranting about this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’ve read one too many blog posts, articles, and Facebook
comments blithely chanting, “Eating healthy now is cheaper than medical bills
later.”</div>
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Well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose this is true but to say this is
the height of pompous arrogance, said by people who CAN AFFORD TO SAY IT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact is, most of us have budgets, and
most of us have to draw the line somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And if you are really trying to detoxify your life, it doesn’t just
end/begin with food – the elimination of household toxins is a vital component
to health as well, one that I would put on par with the food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes but we ingest food?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What about the air we breathe, do you think
that doesn’t count?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does my friend,
it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But wait…let’s get back to the
food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have budgets of varying
degrees, so it REALLY irks me when someone points out that the healthier we
eat, the healthier our bodies will be.</div>
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No friggin’ duh.</div>
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But that flippant little fact doesn’t add money to my wallet.</div>
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And while we are on the topic, another rudeness I encounter
frequently on the health-o-sphere… “We can ALL afford healthy food if you would
just give up that latte/ice cream/soda/whatever-food-sin-you-are-currently-committing”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, my maybe-weekly latte would buy me
another dozen pastured eggs, but you know what, I WANT THAT LATTE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Color me selfish that since I can’t go out
and buy new clothes, jewelry, perfume, or a friggin’ bottle of fancy bubblebath
(that is probably toxic anyway) that I go and buy a latte for ME.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the cost of that one latte isn’t the
problem when I go grocery shopping.</div>
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Ok, I apologize how this has gone off into a rant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously I have some things I need to get
off my mind<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>;-)</div>
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Can we talk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
it’s time we all admit these things, instead of ingratiating ourselves to the
health crowd, crowing about our healthy food, our homes, our lives.</div>
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Can we talk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living
healthy is a not a “right”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a
luxury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a luxury not all of us can
afford, at least not immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
takes planning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course those are the easy things to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, it also takes money.</div>
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More on this to come…</div>
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Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-17641208527601874812013-09-21T07:27:00.000-07:002013-09-21T09:51:48.100-07:00Spice up your Cooking!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5GDz4j7R3U/Uj2roshnjtI/AAAAAAAAANA/cV86yLvPows/s1600/DSC00782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f5GDz4j7R3U/Uj2roshnjtI/AAAAAAAAANA/cV86yLvPows/s400/DSC00782.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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So as promised, here are a few tips to energize your
cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, these aren’t “cooking”
tips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can find a gazillion other
sites that can tell you how to organize your cooking, make meals in advance and
freeze them, cook in batches, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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BORING.</div>
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This is about how to spice up you ATTITUDE about cooking:</div>
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Buy cookbooks when you travel – When I was little I
used to collect those little touristy spoons or thimbles when I traveled, you
know, the useless little things that end up in a junk drawer somewhere?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I buy cookbooks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is something really special about
buying a cookbook with local flavors and recipes (often stemming from the
original settlers of that region).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you can snag a local Jr. League one, even better!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now whenever I pull one of those out, I also relive that
particular vacation with people I love.</div>
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</div>
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<br />
Pinterest – this is only for the
brave and strong of heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You MUST NOT
let yourself be misguided here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pinterest can incite horrible mommy guilt over all the amazing things that
you are not doing for your children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You must resist this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are
looking for legitimate, practical cooking inspiration.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Cook naked – the ultimate
risk-filled participation sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Double
points if you are cooking bacon.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sing while cooking – I had a
roommate once who knew when I was singing I must be cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also knew that when I was belting out
opera, it must be Italian food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
now when I’m chopping up fresh basil from my garden while noodles are boiling
away a sudden belting of “O sole mio” is a sure indicator.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Pretend you are a cooking show host
– this is my FAVORITE game to play while cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I’m really dragging I suddenly imagine myself as a cooking
show host, and talk about what I’m doing, why, little food “tidbits”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really, I should be winning an Emmy for my
work here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Double points if you can
convince yourself that you not only cook like Giada, but you look like her
too<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>;-)</div>
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<br /></div>
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When in doubt, add bacon.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Don't do too much at once - Serve a fancy meat with simple sides. Or put all your time and money into an incredible side but serve a simple main dish. Ok. So this IS a bit of a cooking tip. But this is also a warning - overextending yourself leads to burnout very quickly. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Pray <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">over your food – something really undercuts all
the mess and frustration if you pray for those who will be eating your food
while you are putting it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It serves as a reminder of why you are doing this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If that isn’t your style, at least cook with love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can taste it, I promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband will suddenly say in the middle
of a meal, “I can taste the love in this.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Somehow, they know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-55555717118168943052013-09-19T10:34:00.004-07:002013-09-21T09:45:31.300-07:00Are you just cooking... or preparing a Meal?A friend of mine had posted a question on a forum today, about how to make some easy but healthy snacks for her food-driven toddler. After a variety of suggestions (which she appreciated) she made a very interesting comment, “A big part is that cooking and baking I love...however I'm not used to doing it more than twice a day.”<br />
<br />
Girl, I feel your pain.<br />
<br />
Three years ago – literally THREE YEARS AGO – I was single and cooking for myself. I’ve always enjoyed cooking. My mother once asked me why I never became a chef and I told her it was because it was my artistic outlet and I wanted it to remain that way, not be something I “had to do” to make a living. I had the luxury of choosing when to cook. And that was about once a week. Most of the time I lived on sandwiches, or quick easy things like some chicken and… well, chicken. Sides were a waste of time. Unless you count a glass of wine as a side. But then I would break out with a Stilton Walnut Soup or roasted quail.<br />
<br />
Go forward a year and I was cooking for myself and a husband. A year later, myself, a husband, and a child. I wanted to provide nutritious meals on a budget of both time and money. Meals became an endless cycle of trying to figure out what to cook – chicken and side, roast and side, pasta with whoknowswhat, etc. And just to be clear, my idea of a side is a salad of premixed greens, MAYBE cut up a tomato and a cuke just to make it look like I worked at it. And to add further insult to injury, I knew deep down I had little to complain about – lunches were “every man for himself” and my husband often makes breakfast for all of us.<br />
<br />
But suddenly, I wasn’t just cooking for dinner. I had this little person who was wanting to eat half a dozen little “meals” a day. Not only that, but I had to keep track of them (that whole food allergy analysis thing, bummer). The energy drain was incredible. Cooking became a drudgery. I felt like I was spending all day in the kitchen. I felt like my food was endlessly dull and lifeless.<br />
<br />
It changed, gradually. Children train us in the early days, not the other way around. I figured out her eating patterns and God blessed me with a child who will eat almost anything. But for many months my dinners remained… just food.<br />
<br />
Move forward another year and I now have a husband, toddler, and a new baby. Cooking just seemed to become the ultimate impossibility. One day… something happened. I remembered what this was supposed to be about.<br />
<br />
Nourishment. Nurturing. Health. Happiness.<br />
<br />
Making dinner isn’t about cooking food. It’s about preparing a meal.<br />
<br />
Read that again.<br />
<br />
Making dinner isn’t about cooking food. It’s about preparing a meal. <br />
<br />
There is a big difference.<br />
<br />
Anyone can scramble an egg in five minutes. Not everyone will realize that a few extra seconds (and very few cents can turn something to eat into something tasty, and beautiful, and healthy. That a dash of sea salt and a dollop of pesto can turn that egg into something amazing. Add a slice of tomato and put on a piece of whole grain bread and voila!<br />
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My kitchen has exploded recently. I’m not just cooking again, I’m creating. I’m working on my art. I’m recognizing that healthy begins and ends with what we eat but it’s not just about science. A meal nourishes the heart. I want my children to understand this. So if I spend all day in the kitchen, and it’s always a mess, that’s ok. I'm happier. Healthier. Which makes me a better mother.<br />
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Another friend of mine posted recently that she was about ready to give up on her own health journey, it was too hard to cook for a variety of palates and tastes.<br />
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Don’t. Don’t give up. A healthy body AND soul begins and ends with diet. Just keep saying that to yourself.<br />
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Next post I’ll put out some tips I’ve picked up in recent months on how to make things a little easier. :-)<br />
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Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-68597113090798232382013-09-17T07:51:00.000-07:002013-09-17T07:51:56.917-07:00Panko Promises<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Isn't this BEAUTIFUL?!?!</div>
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This has panko breadcrumbs in it, which I’ve never used
before and Holy Cookbook!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They.are.amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Panko, where
have you been all my life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I want
to look for recipes that use it and eat them EVERY DAY!</div>
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So easy too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got
the original recipe from the September 2011 issue of Real Simple but tweaked it
a bit for ease and budget.</div>
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Step 1:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take out 1
cup of frozen peas to start thawing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you spread them out on a plate they will defrost faster than a small cup or
bowl.</div>
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Step 2:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toss ½ cup
of Panko breadcrumbs with a teaspoon of lemon zest and 1 Tbsp of EEVO, dash of
salt & pepper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mix it well and then
put it in the oven at 350 for 4 minutes, stir around a bit, and then another 4
minutes.</div>
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Step 2: Start cooking a box of linguine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you drain it, reserve about a cup of
the liquid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You won’t need this much
but good to have just in case.</div>
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Step 3:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sautee ½ to
1 lb of little scallops in EEVO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Season
as you go with a dash of salt & pepper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These will cook REALLY fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
key to shellfish is not to overcook them, and these don’t turn like shrimp so
you want to be careful not to overdo it.</div>
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Step 4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get a pot or
a large saucepan (see pic below) and 3-4 TBsp of unsalted butter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melt and stir constantly until golden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is going to be your sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toss in the pasta, peas (if they aren’t done
defrosting, you can stick them in the pasta water for a minute or two),
scallops, a handful of chopped parsley,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>a bit more salt to taste, about ¼ cup of the pasta water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might want to add more of the water
depending on preference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember the
breadcrumbs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toss them in last, stir
the pasta around a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feel free to
drizzle in some more EEVO if you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Done!</div>
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It sounds like a lot reading this but really it’s not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was easy, fast and SO DELICIOUS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It tasted like a restaurant meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I served it in the final post I cooked it
in, family style. Serve with a nice chilled Sauvignon Blanc (Australia makes some fantastic ones).</div>
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Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-90684889415642369532013-09-13T14:04:00.003-07:002013-09-14T08:52:47.766-07:00Self Pointing the Avocado<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I just avocado’d myself…</div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">If you are confused by
that opening, I’m referring to a rather brilliant and hilarious piece written
by HuffPuff blogger Glennon Melton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While I highly recommend reading it for yourself <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/quit-pointing-your-avocado-at-me_b_3492304.html">here</a>, the basic gist is
a mother recognizing that when people do seemingly amazing things for their
children<i>, they actually aren’t doing it to spite you</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They really are doing it for their children
(at least in most cases).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So just chill
out, we all have our virtues and faults as parents.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Yesterday I had an
avocado moment, but ironically, it was for doing something good for my own
child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Picture this – art class for 2-5
year olds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of red clay, lots of
mess, lots of fun – genuinely good times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the middle of it all, there was a break that involved reading a story
and … Snack Time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dread public Snack
Times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is purely self-imposed
because I’m rather strict about what my child eats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Call me crazy, but I don’t need my Toddler Tornado to transition
from a whirling dervish into a F5. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
also want her to maintain some semblance of lifelong health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I fight to keep sugar at a minimum and no
processed phoods (phood = phony food), among other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Snack Time seem to have been created
specifically for the purpose of defying my food ideals.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">And yes, there it was…
fruit punch and…wait for it.. peanut butter crackers.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Ok I love peanut butter
and I have no objections for it for my own child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my first thought was, “Are you people insane?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peanut butter is like playing Russian roulette
with children these days.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I sat
fascinated, waiting for the first parent to freak out.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">No one did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every child sat there eating quite
gleefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the peanut butter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one parent that was silently freaking
out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ME…because I had brought my
child’s own snack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">When asked if my
Tornado wanted a snack, I heard myself babbling incoherently, “Oh no thanks, I
brought her own snack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because…
because… ha ha ha, yeah I’m ‘that’ parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That one people dread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ha ha
ha….”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* voice trails off *</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">Here I was, judging
myself for bring a healthy snack for my own child. To be fair, a friend of mine
brought a snack for her child too so I wasn’t totally alone here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just had the gumption not to apologize
for it.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">The more I thought
about it, the more I realized how often I’m apologizing for looking out for my
child’s health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look, I’m not the
perfect parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m failing gloriously
in other areas, but when it comes to her health, I’m doing pretty well, and I
should never apologize for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with
all the “mommy wars” pacifism going on (which has some excellent points to be
made) I’m realizing that those of us who are working hard at being the very
best parent we can be can be just as easily made the villain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We feel constantly feel the need to justify
ourselves for actually doing something GOOD for our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, we probably judge ourselves harder
than anyone else.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">So yeah, I’m bringing
my own snack for child events so she doesn’t eat phood and who knows what
else…you gotta problem with that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>;-)</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Pssst…it was a really yummy snack by the way… I liked
it too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can find it <a href="http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2013/01/08/breakfast-oatmeal-cupcakes-to-go/">here</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made it with honey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without the chocolate <wink>.</span>Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-89775539069292283792013-09-07T11:17:00.000-07:002013-09-07T11:17:06.987-07:00Do-OverCan we have a do-over? <br />
<br />
I’m a hopeless blogger who goes through spurts of industry before life takes over. Oh well. Once more unto the breach dear friends!<br />
<br />
There have been a LOT of changes since I last blogged. Baby #2 (another girl), we are now sans chickens OR pets of any kind. The only other time in my life where I’ve not had an animal of some sort was the year and a half I lived in the dorms at college. I confess it’s actually really nice. Children are basically like high-maintenance pets so they are enough for now. Someday I’ll have dogs and chickens (and who knows what else) again, but it’s just not the season for it in life, and I’m actually ok with that. My mother would be proud ;-) Maybe now I can actually start some herb gardens without chickens or dogs trying to destroy everything I attempt to grow!<br />
<br />
Farmers Market Day! All this for $10, check it out!<br />
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I’m especially thrilled over these pears. If I tried to eat all local I would rarely get to eat any fruit beyond melons, citrus, and tomatoes. So these are especially treasured. I forgot the name but they are a pretty hard, crisp pear without a lot of sweetness when raw, but once cooked the sweetness comes forth. They’ll be put into Monday’s oatmeal bake. YUM!
Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-71660414707762015032012-01-30T12:35:00.000-08:002012-01-30T13:00:12.785-08:00January Sum-Up!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQjv4IGNrxw/TycEOStk-sI/AAAAAAAAAKw/Wu6W9FAcg8o/s1600/DSC00783.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQjv4IGNrxw/TycEOStk-sI/AAAAAAAAAKw/Wu6W9FAcg8o/s320/DSC00783.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703532096675707586" /></a><br />With all the daily mundane routines eating away the vast majority of my time, it's nice to take a moment to look back on the month and see what's been accomplished.<br /><br /><br />In the garden:<br />·Laid the foundation for a new herb bed<br />·Planted a mint bed under the orange tree<br />·Planted seeds for some veggies that hopefully will be coming up soon<br />·Brought my chickens back to a more nourished, happy state<br />·Gradually bringing to life in my imagination (first step to reality) a bee yard in the back corner.<br /><br /><br />In the house:<br />·Have about half the house under control now on a daily basis. No small feat!<br />·While not complete just yet, my goal is by the end of the month (woops! tomorrow!) to have all the Christmas decorations put away<br /><br /><br />My 52 Week Mini-Challenges have REALLY helped me feel like I’ve taken steps towards taking care of myself on a personal level! Some permanent changes I’ve made:<br />·I’ve cut way back on my coffee (from 4-5 cups a day to 2) which is healthier AND saving me money! I’ve only made 2 runs to Starbucks this month!<br />·Fast food elimination! I’ve not had fast food ONCE this month!!!<br />·I’ve upped my water intake from practically zilch to 48 oz a day<br />·I’m not exercising every day but I’m trying. I’m generally more active on a daily basis than I was. My flexibility is definitely better with my daily stretching.<br />·My face is much better now do to making sure to wash and moisturize it daily<br /><br />Along the way I’ve been able to embark on some fun projects such as starting a batch of culinary orange extract, a new batch of vanilla extract, etc. I really wanted to make some orange marmalade from my oranges but… jelly making and babies don’t mix so well. At least not right now. That’s ok… I’d rather have the baby ;-)<br /><br />There! I feel better and more accomplished just by writing this out. There is still SO MUCH I want to do, it’s easy to feel impatient or frustrated when time or finances hinder the process, so it’s important to see how far I’ve come rather than where I want to go.<br /><br />I'm not adding a new Mini Challenge this week. I want to use this week to cement the good habits, wrap up projects, and think about what I want to accomplish in February!<br /><br />Better go hustle!Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-52778508980745307912012-01-28T07:29:00.000-08:002012-01-28T07:52:29.458-08:00Volunteers!NOW it's getting to be a bit ridiculous! I was outside looking for something and suddenly though it might be where the chicken coop used to be (I move it around periodically until I establish a more permanent arrangement). I go out there and see this (doesn't show up too well in this shot):<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jr6Ao3F_zFE/TyQZIVf2gXI/AAAAAAAAAKk/GH2tyuIYsyU/s1600/Tom%2B1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jr6Ao3F_zFE/TyQZIVf2gXI/AAAAAAAAAKk/GH2tyuIYsyU/s320/Tom%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702710659158278514" /></a><br /><br /><br />That's just one but there are volunteer tomatoes everywhere around the old chicken location! Four total! I know what happened, the chickens get veggie scraps and some tom. seeds sprouted up in the rich "leftovers" the chickens so graciously donated. Unlike in the garden where I can narrow down what sort of tomato plants sprouted up there, here I have NO idea. Could have been from a wormy garden tomato, could be from the farmer's market, could be from the store. I have no clue. I'm definitely not pulling them up though, not now at least. I'll just leave them happy where they are (they aren't in the way of anything at the moment) and let nature do it's thing and have fun with it. Just watch... I'll harvest pounds of tomatoes from them and none from the garden.<br /><br />Now onto my agenda on this blustery “spring” day in January:<br />·Zest a ton of fresh oranges to make dried orange peel powder<br />·Start some orange extract<br />·Start some new vanilla extract<br />·Maybe start some vanilla sugar<br />·Finish off the Memorial Herb Bed and start some plantings there (will post pictures soon).<br />·MAYBE clean up the front stoop and put some fresh pretty potted things there…it’s looking very grim with the plant mummies from last summer sitting there.<br />·Plant some seeds… not sure what yet.<br /><br />Ok I might not be able to get all that done today… let’s aim for this as a weekend goal ;-)Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-83006847670825794912012-01-24T13:49:00.000-08:002012-01-24T13:54:57.437-08:00Good Grief!It looks like the Lone Tomato has friends!<br /><br />There is another tomato plant popping up, several little fuzzy heads of carrots, and something else that I'm not sure about. It could be a weed but I'm going to delay in pulling it up for a while yet. There are not other weeds in the area that looks like this so it might be a "real" plant.<br /><br />I'm simultaneously pleased, baffled, and vaguely annoyed. I'm very excited to see things growing but baffled/annoyed they are doing it now and not when I planted them. Whaaaat's up with that?<br /><br />I know, I know...it's all good. But it doesn't go far in TEACHING me anything. Other than the fact that gardens grow in their own good time.<br /><br />One thing I DO know, the garden soil is doing ok...I had thought I needed to give it something magical but apparently not. So planting is officially on the agenda for this week. <br /><br /><br /><br />I just hope what I plant now won't wait til January of '13 to show up.Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-66896676050455913732012-01-19T15:55:00.000-08:002012-01-19T16:01:59.786-08:00It's the Lone Tomato!!!Thus far I have proven to be a pathetic gardener.<br /><br /><br /><br />I realize part of this is simply the learning process. But seriously.<br /><br /><br /><br />On my first attempt (spring of ’10) I buried my seeds far too deeply into the soil. I thought I was protecting them from birds but in reality, I was keeping sunshine from them (good analogy to parenting actually… but I digress…). <br /><br />That fall I was busy planning my wedding.<br /><br /><br /><br />My next attempt was spring of ’11. I don’t know what happened that time. I planted my beautiful little heirloom seeds and… nothing. The few tomato seedlings I planted did “ok” but never could be called thriving. Most of my toms were wormy before I ever got to them.<br /><br />That fall I was busy with a newborn. We move quickly around here.<br /><br /><br /><br />Now I’m facing spring of ’12. Will this be the year? I’m trying to juggle a household, a new baby, a stack of reading material, and a deep DEEP desire for a successful garden. I’ve prepped two new herb beds the last few months, with plans for future beds down the road (right now I’m focusing more on cooking herbs but I very much want to grow medicinal herbs as well, and the sooner the better). I've actually managed to do fairly well with herbs so far. I’ll have to start over with my blackberries as the terrible drought last year did them in at last, despite my best efforts, so those need to be replaced. My grapevines… well… the jury is out on those. My potted dwarf apricot might be dead. Or might just not have leaves.<br /><br />On the bright side my potted Meyer Lemon and Mexican Lime trees are doing very well. I’m trying to decide whether I want to leave them in pots or plant them this spring. I have other tree plans as well.<br /><br />Today I went out to water what is alive (or hoped to be alive) and decided to quickly turn up my current little garden bed by hand. I attacked a few weeds and turned soil and suddenly came across something amazing:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ee57IcNclro/Txit-iejj7I/AAAAAAAAAI4/lj9AUkrJtB4/s1600/DSC00747.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ee57IcNclro/Txit-iejj7I/AAAAAAAAAI4/lj9AUkrJtB4/s320/DSC00747.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699496618355822514" /></a><br /><br /><br />A lone little tomato plant from a seed tossed last year? The year before? I have no idea what kind it is. But it’s a gift. And hopefully an omen.<br /><br />Here’s to the 2012 growing season!!!!Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-20217728869971233832012-01-16T09:10:00.000-08:002012-01-16T09:13:56.373-08:0052 Week Challenge!Do you make New Year’s resolutions?<br /><br />I’m not sure if I have ever made true resolutions… usually more vague promises to be a better person by trying to attain things like patience, fortitude, a cheerful attitude, etc. Whether or not these things were actually attained I couldn’t say.<br /><br />For several years running I took a word for the year to center my life around and that technique had amazing results in my life. I should say I was GIVEN a word because the word for the year would just pop into my head with headlights and a chorus of angels singing to let me know it had arrived. When things in my life would become difficult or problematic, often that word would come back into my head and somehow honing in on that word would somehow solve whatever issue was facing me. I wish I had kept a journal of those years because now I can’t remember what words I chose in that time of my in life. “Grace” was one year and “Forgiveness” another. One year was actually a phrase: "Be a grown-up"... but beyond that… ??? Some time ago though the words disappeared and that time in my life passed on to new roads to follow. To everything there is a season.<br /><br />However, I happen to be one of those people who LOVES self-improvement. My problem is I attempt too much improvement at once and end up frustrated and annoyed with myself, and making no improvement at all. So this year I am doing something different. I am challenging myself to a 52 Week Challenge. Every week I will choose a mini-goal that will either 1) help establish a new habit or 2) break an old one. These are not to be a challenge with a temporary result in mind but something of lasting importance. For example, doing one’s taxes, while a worthwhile endeavor is (I hope) temporary in nature… once April 15th rolls around, you are done. This is an effort to change my life for the better. And just think, by the end of the year I will have altered my life for good in 52 ways! My challenges may be physical, mental, or spiritual in nature.<br /><br />Come join me! :-)Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-77701806646195807952012-01-06T15:19:00.000-08:002012-01-06T15:39:52.888-08:00Baby StepsFirst time back in the yard since last summer (other than feeding the chickens and watering some plants. Laid the baby on a blanket in some dappled sunlight and bricked out a new herb bed<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wHODN0XF3Vw/TweFLnXjFKI/AAAAAAAAAIs/RvhcSCbEr-Q/s1600/DSC00725.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wHODN0XF3Vw/TweFLnXjFKI/AAAAAAAAAIs/RvhcSCbEr-Q/s320/DSC00725.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694666688426087586" /></a><br /><br />The potted tree is an dwarf apricot that I hope is still alive, and the growing on the chain link fence is a white Thompson Seedless grape.<br /><br />Interesting story about those bricks. They come from a demolished building here in this area that was called the Memorial Coliseum. It was here for decades and a lot of our town's "big" events were held there. When it was torn down I collected some bricks specifically for a Memorial Garden Bed... I like the idea of borders created from interesting recycled bits and this one is really special to me.Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-60196600462125033982012-01-05T12:07:00.001-08:002012-01-05T12:09:56.870-08:00Back in the SaddleI've been gone a long, long time but I think this is as good a reason as any to not be blogging:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nB71oz2aUtM/TwYDTpRpniI/AAAAAAAAAIg/WXLFSQ1bWJA/s1600/DSC00540.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nB71oz2aUtM/TwYDTpRpniI/AAAAAAAAAIg/WXLFSQ1bWJA/s320/DSC00540.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694242414888853026" /></a><br /><br />Welcome to the world Ava June!!!<br /><br />More to come :-)Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-39510456806232363592011-06-29T08:38:00.000-07:002011-06-29T09:00:44.264-07:00Just getting by...I'm pretty much on auto-pilot this week. Confession: I'm tired. I'm somewhat cranky. I feel fat. I feel like I'm coming down with something. Can you hear a squeaky violin playing somewhere in the background? ;-)<br /><br />In all seriousness I'm just "getting by" for the next 48 hours. This week is the last week of my job. Hopefully forever. I can just TASTE the freedom but... I need to make it just a little while longer. Then I will have (hopefully) two months to rest, play, work, and prepare for Baby. Then, according to some, my life will be over. Others say then life will just begin. I'm shooting for somewhere in the middle <wink>.<br /><br />No pictures today. Nothing particularly fun. I can report that the last of the figs have been picked for this year <sob>. Those %#%! grackles were merciless. I don't mind sharing some of my figs with birds (especially sweet sparrows or morning doves) but grackles are the worst. They take ONE BITE out of a beautiful, ripe fig and then leave the rest. And they say humans are wasteful... Fortunately the chickens still get to enjoy the half-eaten figs and I have enough to put away one more batch of fig jam, along with some leftovers to just EAT. Then back to the grapes.<br /><br />It IS interesting, never having really done intense preservation methods before, how much you are at the mercy of the weather and time. I used to think that only applied to gardening itself, but it applies here too. Fig season is short anyway and the birds make it shorter. You only have so many days to harvest, and then put them away (or eat them!) before they are chicken snacks (figs do NOT have a great shelf life). Same with the grapes. We are getting close to their overripe stage so I MUST move forward and pick them this week if I'm going to do anything productive with them. Since I harvest the wild grapes from land belonging to other people, this takes some coordination. But after that, the rest of my plans are on a more relaxed timeline. I foresee being done with grapes and figs by early next week. I think.<br /><br />Incidentally I just realized this reads as if I view all this as a drudgery. I do NOT! In fact, I'm merely begrudging the fact that for now, for this week - I still have a job and can't do all the things I really WANT to do. I'm being called to a higher work but held back by a few strands of obligations that I'm anxious to finally sever. Just a few more days.... :-)<br /><br />Last thought: Remember my lofty weekend list? Um, yeah... I think half of it was accomplished. But that's ok, my weekend list is usually the jumping off point for the week's list. And besides... I'll have more time soon!Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-12110828029548045722011-06-26T10:20:00.000-07:002011-06-26T10:28:57.999-07:00Scratch, scratch, scratch...So yesterday I went from this:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gmK_ntyjHw/Tgdqg_jXURI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/VILNBiOVgYU/s1600/DSC06311.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gmK_ntyjHw/Tgdqg_jXURI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/VILNBiOVgYU/s320/DSC06311.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622579774843474194" /></a><br /><br /><br />To this!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2F5D0FCm5w/Tgdqlg-RIFI/AAAAAAAAAIY/X1C8Th6SqPQ/s1600/DSC06317.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2F5D0FCm5w/Tgdqlg-RIFI/AAAAAAAAAIY/X1C8Th6SqPQ/s320/DSC06317.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622579852534161490" /></a><br /><br /><br />That's what about 10 lbs of wild Mustang Grapes will get you. That and itchy hands. I had always been slightly derisive of people with skin issues. I've heard people complain about the notorious "fig itch" from fig leaves, warning to wear long sleeves and gloves. HA! I boldly go in amongst my Fig Jungle wearing a sleeveless top and barehands. I think my smugness has been due in part to having what has been described as "delicate skin" because I'm extremely fair-skinned. Puh-leaze... my skin may have that look but c'mon, it's Irish skin for a reason; it has a heritage of grubbing for taters in the cold dirt. It's pretty hardy. I had also received many warnings about the high acidity level of Mustang Grapes, proclamations as extreme as the grapes burning the skin of your hands. I did take some gloves but never put them on, never had a single issue during the picking or after.<br /><br />That however changed in light of actually CRUSHING the grapes. It's not too bad but oi vey, yes, it ITCHES!!!!<br /><br />But when I look at that row of pretty little sparking bottles of jelly, it's worth it :-)Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-63096490081190055432011-06-24T12:52:00.000-07:002011-06-24T13:06:17.569-07:00Garden Nerd Alert!Just to amuse you (and because it's Friday and work is BORING), I've drawn a little "yard map" to give you an idea of the space I have with which to work. I have no idea how well anyone can see this but here it is:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uAdQkGdTb38/TgTsXS_kp1I/AAAAAAAAAII/GJnoHjrl2yc/s1600/backyard%2Bmap.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uAdQkGdTb38/TgTsXS_kp1I/AAAAAAAAAII/GJnoHjrl2yc/s320/backyard%2Bmap.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621878119844849490" /></a><br /><br /><br />I know I SAID that I want to use this weekend to focus on the accomplishments we've done in the last few months BUT I can't help but make a list here of what I still want to do in the near future (being fall):<br /><br />2 semi-dwarf apple trees<br />1 or 2 peach trees<br />Any other fruit trees I can fit<br />I keep thinking that I need to plant the lemon, lime, and apricot eventually or they won't do much but WHERE? How do I keep sunny areas for garden AND plant a gazillion fruit trees? Thoughts?<br /><br />Also hope to do some more decorative herb beds, but that's easy stuff and plenty of room to squeeze those prettily around the yard.<br /><br />Yes. I am a Woman Obsessed.Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-37852739489437926362011-06-24T05:56:00.000-07:002011-06-24T06:22:31.052-07:00This and That...Just a quickie little post. I spent all of Monday evening making fig jam and between that and work and the little watermelon I'm carrying with me 24/7 it seemed to do me in for several days. MUST remember that the whole "barefoot, pregnant, working in the kitchen" thing doesn't work for me - my flat feet have to wear shoes! Ugh! Not that I haven't been somewhat productive - Tuesday evening was spent picking wild grapes (and I didn't take my camera, I'm disgusted with myself) out of which I hope to make several batches of jelly and if I get really, really brave - some wine. Wednesday I reveled in the peace of a summer rain that brought joy and happiness to all of us dried-up raisins in S. Texas. Thursday... What did I do Thursday??? I crashed and burned. Oh and I finished my first new fictional read in a long time (lately I've been more of a "books of information" reader), <em>Alas Babylon</em> by Pat Frank (a most excellent book! Suprisingly enjoyable given the topic).<br /><br />Fortunately I woke up somewhat recovered and I'm trying to get myself in gear for a weekend jam-packed (ha!) full of plans. Here is my Wish List of what I hope to get done. Maybe.<br /><br />·Make watermelon jelly.<br />·Possibly get started on watermelon rind pickles -- I hear they are great but honestly, <strong><em>what does one DO with watermelon rind pickles???</em></strong> Does anyone know?<br />·Make another batch of fig jam.<br />·Make several batches of grape jelly.<br />·Clear out Garden Plot #1 of summer remains, add some manure yum to the dirt, and set it up for a few weeks of sun solarization.<br />·Prep for Garden Plot #2<br />·Finish the most long-winded "simple" project I have undertaken this year, what has become known as the Infamous Orange Tree Redo (will have pictures of that soon).<br />·Finish up the Kitchen Reorganizing Project and have it nice and clean and smelling yummy by Sunday evening.<br />·Start making some serious headway on the Study Reorganizing Project (which I've started in small spurts of available time).<br />·Get some progress done on a gift project that has been in the works forever and MUST be done in the next week - a corkboard made of wine corks as a gift to my boss.<br />·General straightening of the house and those mundane little tasks that make life during the week easier (menu planning, gathering of food from the Farmer's Market and store, etc).<br />·Really, really need to clean and move the chicken coop (NOTE: this has been on my list for weeks and see how it is still on the BOTTOM of the list?)<br /><br />Whew... I'm tired again looking at this list. We shall see what actually gets DONE ;-) I would actually love to also make some chicken stock but I don't think I can handle THAT many pots on the stove all at once. Even I have a limit.<br /><br />Lastly, I feel that I need to take a step back and really look at the yard and space, and consider not what needs to be done next, but enjoy and appreciate all that has been accomplished for the first half of the year. And because I can't do anything without going all Nerd Brain, maybe make a yard map. Oooooh I love maps.....<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2VZtl66l1nc/TgSPWyKdP_I/AAAAAAAAAIA/sq4VzDx1frY/s1600/DSC06096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2VZtl66l1nc/TgSPWyKdP_I/AAAAAAAAAIA/sq4VzDx1frY/s320/DSC06096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621775856450748402" /></a>Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-85415588953474117472011-06-20T06:33:00.000-07:002011-06-20T06:45:03.170-07:00A Saucerful of HeavenA word on desserts: Despite my last post on ice cream, we don’t do a lot of desserts in the house. I definitely have a sweet tooth but I try to be careful for a variety of reasons (weight, some blood sugar issues in the family, etc). More and more I’ve been turning to exclusively maple syrup or raw honey as a sweetener for all my cooking. The only exceptions to this is my single daily cuppa coffee and when I make jam/jelly – for those things I still use sugar (albeit organic). I have also been trying to keep desserts simple and incorporating more fruit or natural things (as opposed to a pastry, or something processed). Lastly, I only “make” a dessert about once a week – as a special treat to perk up the middle of the week (not counting my yogurt & honey escapades - that's a PROTEIN snack! Right? RIGHT??!!).<br /><br />Last week when the figs were first ripening I came up with this decadent little dessert. I did a some research and pulled together ideas from my various foodie websites but the final result is my own creation.<br /><br />First I cut some figs in half -- aren't cut figs strangely luscious and sensual???<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fATJ-8qH-7w/Tf9MzNGE11I/AAAAAAAAAHw/FE93xS-Dkhg/s1600/more%2Bfig%2Bhalves.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fATJ-8qH-7w/Tf9MzNGE11I/AAAAAAAAAHw/FE93xS-Dkhg/s320/more%2Bfig%2Bhalves.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620295302553851730" /></a><br /><br />Meanwhile I melted some butter and honey together with a dash of a few spices (you could probably insert just about any spice here like cinnamon, allspice, anise, etc). Then I put the fig halves in a small baking dish and drizzled the honey/butter mixture all over them. THEN I topped them with the teeniest, tiniest dollop of my yogurt cheese. I roasted them for about 15 minutes in the oven and then... voila! A little saucerful of heaven for The Mister and myself :-)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jrn0VI1yhc/Tf9Njy75SuI/AAAAAAAAAH4/-CZpDCX5hTI/s1600/plated%2Bfigs%2B5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jrn0VI1yhc/Tf9Njy75SuI/AAAAAAAAAH4/-CZpDCX5hTI/s400/plated%2Bfigs%2B5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620296137345420002" /></a>Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-72458998467935713342011-06-19T20:33:00.000-07:002011-06-19T20:40:11.359-07:00A little bit of yumMust. Stop. Eating. So. Much. Ice. Cream.<br /><br />I have always had an ice cream addiction but lately it's gotten to be a BIT much. Plus I need to add more protein to my diet. I still get a pint for the weekend but here is my new "healthy alternative" dessert to satiate my need for delicious creamy decadence during the week. Plain whole-fat yogurt mixed with local honey. Next time need to try it with vanilla. OOOH and maybe crushed figs!!! ;-)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XHb78cV1kwM/Tf6_905jkdI/AAAAAAAAAHo/omGDqoIpQz0/s1600/yogurt%2Bwith%2Bhoney.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XHb78cV1kwM/Tf6_905jkdI/AAAAAAAAAHo/omGDqoIpQz0/s320/yogurt%2Bwith%2Bhoney.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620140453897933266" /></a><br /><br /><br />It isn't Caramel Cone but it's a heck of a lot better than ice milk (BLECH!!!)Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-65648017907155803902011-06-18T17:31:00.000-07:002011-06-18T17:42:47.185-07:00Homemade Laban CheeseI made a comment on Facebook the other day about making some homemade cheese. So just a quick blip on that cheese... I make it out of yogurt although it can also be made out of whole milk, buttermilk, and kefir. Making it out of yogurt gives you the texture of cream cheese with an every so slightly sour taste - think of it as a hybrid between cream cheese and sour cream. <br /><br /><em><strong>Tidbit of the day: To make it specifically out of yogurt creates a cheese commonly used in the Middle East called Laban Cheese.</strong></em><br /><br />Rather than recite all the instructions, I'll simply direct you to one of my favorite Foodie sites, <a href="http://www.cheeseslave.com/2009/05/01/how-to-make-whey/">Cheeseslave</a><br /><br />Here is a picture of my Laban cheese when it is finished:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lhY309b00mQ/Tf1E5ESV46I/AAAAAAAAAHY/5hDtM-w1ByM/s1600/fresh%2Byogurt%2Bcheese.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lhY309b00mQ/Tf1E5ESV46I/AAAAAAAAAHY/5hDtM-w1ByM/s320/fresh%2Byogurt%2Bcheese.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619723657222153122" /></a><br /><br />Moms, this would be a fun EASY project to do with the kids!<br /><br />One caveat - you must use PLAIN WHOLE FAT dairy. A little blueberry cup of "yogurt" isn't going to work. If you can get raw dairy, even better. When I can't get raw milk to make my own yogurt, I use Strauss yogurt out of CA. It's pasteurized but the cows are primarily grassfed and hormone/anti-biotic free.<br /><br />Someday I hope to do more cheesemaking someday but this is about as much as I can do with my equipment and knowledge... so far ;-)Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-29452562312409027742011-06-18T15:24:00.001-07:002011-06-18T15:46:24.551-07:00It's a figgy sort of day...So... remember when I posted this picture of my fig tree earlier this year?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9y-t9bZwv0E/Tf0lrQmAhNI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/pkTBTnezsVc/s1600/dead%2Bfig"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9y-t9bZwv0E/Tf0lrQmAhNI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/pkTBTnezsVc/s200/dead%2Bfig" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619689335147234514" /></a><br /><br />Check it out now!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R5iataw6hbk/Tf0nb0vB2bI/AAAAAAAAAGY/SxcqnZ2-oA8/s1600/fig%2Btree%2Bjune.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R5iataw6hbk/Tf0nb0vB2bI/AAAAAAAAAGY/SxcqnZ2-oA8/s200/fig%2Btree%2Bjune.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619691268994095538" /></a><br /><br />Funny thing about this fig tree... I've had it for years and years but it never did anything fruit-wise. Back in February 2010 I told it if it didn't start producing figs it was going to be chopped down to make room for a GOOD fig tree. Sure enough, about a month later, some of the branches of a looming chinaberry tree came off and some figs appeared! I guess the poor tree was choked off from the sunlight figs love so much. THIS February the ENTIRE chinaberry tree was chopped down and the fig tree is going CRAZY!!! Figs are amazing things, considering we've had basically zero rain for months the figs are still there. Perhaps not as plump but happy enough. We are now in fig season so I've been going a-figging.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcnSD-JrXKQ/Tf0oRnJR9QI/AAAAAAAAAGg/PxDqErjsC_4/s1600/figs%2Bon%2Btree.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcnSD-JrXKQ/Tf0oRnJR9QI/AAAAAAAAAGg/PxDqErjsC_4/s200/figs%2Bon%2Btree.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619692193059042562" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JD9gys4aGic/Tf0oaFo-nQI/AAAAAAAAAGo/SO02TPpArEE/s1600/sky%2Bfigs.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JD9gys4aGic/Tf0oaFo-nQI/AAAAAAAAAGo/SO02TPpArEE/s200/sky%2Bfigs.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619692338684009730" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1JPMxoytUs/Tf0o2ThlYiI/AAAAAAAAAGw/pc9WYbz3zjU/s1600/fig%2Bjungle.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1JPMxoytUs/Tf0o2ThlYiI/AAAAAAAAAGw/pc9WYbz3zjU/s200/fig%2Bjungle.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619692823447429666" /></a> Peering through the fig jungle!<br /><br />So expect some figgy posts the next few days... I'm making fig preserves, fig jam, fig desserts... Fig season is so short and so precious, it really only lasts just a few weeks. But hopefully I'll be able to capture enough figs in jars to brighten up a rainy winter morning. And of course, I'm sure a few figs will just end up popped into my mouth as well ;-)Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-62136520106667660212011-05-21T19:19:00.000-07:002011-05-24T08:24:52.693-07:00Lessons in Gardening, Part 1So this spring I had what I consider to be my first REAL garden. Technically I did plant a garden last spring but it was a colossal failure for several reasons.<br /><br /> 1. I didn’t plant anything on time. I had the plot ready, I had the seeds… what I didn’t have was a P L A N. Yes, on certain things I’m a Planner of the Highest Magnitude. I love the details in planning. Oh, I planned the heck out of my garden but by the time I got done planning and actually planted something, it was far, far too late in the season.<br /> 2. I didn’t understand watering. It isn’t just giving plants some water, especially in S. Texas (this is something I’m still learning).<br /> 3. Don’t bury your seeds. I planted my seeds so safely, so securely, soooo deeply! The poor little guys couldn’t get enough growth to get their heads above ground. I’ve learned to just pat them into the ground.<br /><br /><br />I thought at the time, that’s ok, I’ll do better in the fall (fall is really be BEST of our three seasons down here). The only catch was that by the time fall planting rolled around, I was falling madly in love with this handsome man who by Christmas would be my husband. Needless to say my mind was not on gardening ;-)<br /><br />So this spring, handsome sexy hubbie aside, I was DETERMINED to do a garden the right way. I still had to overcome my planning tendencies. Fortunately I was able to use a lot of the info I had put together from last year (again, the plan wasn’t so bad, just the timing). I actually got some seeds in the ground – on time! I actually made a garden map with dates. When some seeds didn’t do well, I replanted (and recorded the new date). If they still didn’t grow, I marked those seeds as junk (didn’t toss them though, someday I’ll do a wild haphazard plot and just toss all my junk seeds out and see what happens…that could have really cool results). I watered, I nurtured, I sang and talked to my plants, I even prayed over my little plot. How did it do?<br /><br />Weeeeeell… from a harvest perspective… I’ll call it “ok” but really it’s been pretty dismal. My mustard and collard greens went crazy, and I got quite a few radishes out of the deal. Everything else? Well, let’s talk. Technically I have the 2nd “wave” in the spring garden still working but I’ll go over my mistakes and what I’ve learned most of this season.<br /><br /><br /><strong>No matter how much you think you will eat, plant more.</strong><br />Very important lesson for several reasons. First of all, if something is really yummy, you will want more. Humans are funny about food in that way. Secondly, I remembered too late the old saying “One for the blackbird, one for the crow, and that will leave just one to grow”. Ok, so I’m not dealing with blackbirds or crows but I still had my share of hungry little bugs (who are still decimating my Cherokee Purples as I write this). Thirdly, not every seed you sow or plant you put into the ground will actually produce. More on this a little later. Lastly, you don’t realize until you’ve been there that one bean bush doesn’t give you a heck of a lot to work with. Most plants seem to need multiples to give you something to actually COOK (some exceptions – maters, eggplant, some greens like collards).<br /><br /><strong>Water. And water a little more. But don’t waste water.</strong><br />Most of this spring I was fortunate enough to use my two 55-gallon water barrels that were filled up this past January. Just 3 weeks ago I drained them dry (although a shore rain since has filled them back up about halfway). During that time I did pretty well with watering from the barrels, filling up my water bucket and doing what I call a “focused” watering – pouring a cupful of water around each plant. It was a little more work and tedious, but I liked knowing I was using God-given water and I also like knowing I wasn’t paying for it. However as the days got hotter and we had some exceptionally dry wind, I did come to realize that every few days the garden needed a really good soaking, and then I used the hose.<br /><br />Another thing about watering… little plants and seeds don’t seem to need as much, but when you are transplanting potted plants into the earth, they need a LOT of water to get established. I planted two grapevines and three blackberry bushes into the ground directly and they were all suffering until I figured this out. Now they are established fairly well and don’t need that soaking quite as much.<br /><br /><strong>Square Foot Gardening doesn’t work… aaargh!!!</strong><br />My OCD side loved the idea of square foot gardening. It’s clean, it’s precise, it’s easy to maintain… and it doesn’t work. Part of the reason by the SFG Guru, Mel Bartholomew, is that you plant an exact amount of seeds rather than waste them by planting too many only to thin out later on. Yeah, ok that only works if ALL YOUR SEEDS SPROUT. This has never happened to me. Blame me, blame the seeds, doesn’t matter. Next comes spacing – Bartholomew is passionate about spacing. HIS SPACES DON’T WORK. One square foot for a full-grown tomato? Um, try 2 feet. Four heads of lettuce per foot? Not if you want baby greens, then you want a bunch of seeds in that foot of land (oh and other thing Mel, some seeds don’t do well “planted”…sometimes you gotta just sow a lot of them. Another thing I learned about lettuce).<br /><br /><strong>Oh wait, Square Foot Gardening DOES work…whaaa?</strong><br />Some aspects of Mel’s writing do help me out. It keepshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif me organized. It helps me find little nooks & crannies to plant things (for example, plant late harvest radishes under the branches of taller plants).<br /><br /><strong>Don’t be afraid to experiment with new plants – but you might want to know what to do with them once harvested.</strong><br />Kinda self-explanatory. Let’s just say I’ve had some interesting cooking experiences.<br /><br /><br />So those are a few things I’ve learned so far … but I’m sure not the last ;-)<br /><br /><br />This post is part of <a href="http://hartkeisonline.com/cooking/weekend-gourmet-blog-carnival-may-23-2011/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HartkeIsOnline+%28Hartke+Is+Online!%29">Weekend Gourmet</a> - Hartke is OnlineAmber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7350762964815752082.post-5402866712745045302011-05-06T20:41:00.000-07:002011-05-06T21:06:35.131-07:00Shrimp Stock<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--xXRYzdjkZc/TcTEqT_eGhI/AAAAAAAAAGE/H1JMsAnZH64/s1600/DSC06207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--xXRYzdjkZc/TcTEqT_eGhI/AAAAAAAAAGE/H1JMsAnZH64/s320/DSC06207.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603820067555777042" /></a><br /><br />Ever since becoming a <a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/">Weston A. Price</a> girl I've been gradually trying (emphasis on the "trying" here) to increase my steps towards Real Food. You know, like, food-food? Not the Hamburger Hell-per that is processed garbage but real meat, veggies, fruits, and "naturally" processed foods via fermentation, etc. One thing that is strongly emphasized is the importance of good stocks and broths. I save and freeze all sorts of potential stock goodies - chicken bones, meat bones, veggies scraps (ok some of those go to the girls), fish scraps... I even had a full bag of shrimp shells. So I decided to make some shrimp stock. What will I use it for? I have NO IDEA! Why let that stop me? ;-)<br /><br />For the record I've always bought shrimp with shells. They are cheaper and I find it theraputic to de-shell & de-vein the little boogers. But before I always just tossed the shells into the garbage, and forget about them, then 6 days later I wander through the house wondering what in the world that smell is wafting about. This was before The Mister came along as he is very diligent about trash duties.<br /><br />So following the general recipe in Nourishing Traditions, behold, the glories of shrimp stock!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1xbAVRXR7Wk/TcTCf3g9u_I/AAAAAAAAAFc/xJA8tI5GZOE/s1600/DSC06199.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1xbAVRXR7Wk/TcTCf3g9u_I/AAAAAAAAAFc/xJA8tI5GZOE/s200/DSC06199.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603817689089686514" /></a> You start with all your shells, break 'em down in a food processor. Simmer them in some oil (I used coconut oil...of course). Add some wine, apple cider vinegar, and a few other goodies. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JiW3sQqzKJc/TcTDDE8t1LI/AAAAAAAAAFk/jJ2opGFwEAs/s1600/DSC06201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JiW3sQqzKJc/TcTDDE8t1LI/AAAAAAAAAFk/jJ2opGFwEAs/s200/DSC06201.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603818293991167154" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zpWZfqbxaIo/TcTDa5-ATCI/AAAAAAAAAFs/EZYhfzpXqZU/s1600/DSC06204.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zpWZfqbxaIo/TcTDa5-ATCI/AAAAAAAAAFs/EZYhfzpXqZU/s200/DSC06204.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603818703360642082" /></a> Add your water and some veggies. Then you let it simmer. Some people say that with shrimp you can cut it off as early as 30 minutes... others say to go for about three hours. Not being in a hurry I let it go three hours.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JP3tTKrL3WU/TcTD3emh7cI/AAAAAAAAAF0/hakM5-h2jWU/s1600/DSC06206.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JP3tTKrL3WU/TcTD3emh7cI/AAAAAAAAAF0/hakM5-h2jWU/s200/DSC06206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603819194230631874" /></a><br /><br /><br />The golden goodness of shrimp stock!!!Amber Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00357881489986157439noreply@blogger.com0