My Way, No. 30

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— After all that talk about bread this past week, I thought I would link you to an inexpensive DIY banneton: $2 Banneton for Better Bread Loaves | instructables.com.

Natural Dyes – All Natural Ways To Dye Fabric | diynatural.com.

— Adventures in Food: Ever since I posted the English muffins recipe, I have been thinking about making Benedict. I finally made it, but I decided to go with the Italian Scones recipe (posted here) as a base.

For the scones, I used my sprouted whole wheat pastry flour, subbed homemade non-fat Greek-style yogurt for butter, and dried the leftover marinated tomatoes from the Smothered Mediterranean Chicken. Roasted sweet mini peppers and tomato hollandaise. Cocktail from a berry-pom shrub and fizzy water. I used the arils for a garnish like the Tangerine-Pom cocktail posted here.

This was just supposed to be a small snack of ciabatta & olive oil, grapes, and a little vino. I decided to go for a bit more to make it a full meal. A little melted cheese (vs. oil) & red wine-thyme onion jam for the bread, some nuts, olives, Honey-Balsamic Turkish-Spiced Chickpeas, beet-pickled egg, and giardiniera. The egg and giardiniera were quickles, as I hadn’t really planned on having them. I subbed skim milk with just a little bit of olive oil for the whole-y (holy?) ciabatta. It was fab!
The Seafood Lasagna recipe I posted turned into 2 dishes:

Filling was salmon, crab, arugula (I had some to use up), homemade non-fat ricotta, homemade non-fat Greek-style yogurt, parm, garlic, onion, s&p. I also added a little beaten egg to the lasagna roll filling. Just a little bit of parm and the creaminess of the yogurt added a richness to the ricotta. The rolls are great for the freezer to pop out for a quick meal. I made the ravioli with my milled hard red wheat berries, vital wheat gluten, egg, egg yolk, and water. White sauce with skim milk, olive oil roux, white wine, parm, and roasted garlic. Finished with pistachios. I whipped up some fresh butter in the food processor (my indulgence) for the bread. It takes 5-10 minutes or so, depending on your processor. I was inspired by the Rosemary Lemonade here for the strawberry-basil lemonade. Sweetened with the Berhi date syrup and stevia.

I had some toasted quinoa & kept craving carrots, so I made this Grilled Carrot & Walnut Salad with Carrot Top Pesto (a few times, once with rice) — yums!:

For a special occasion, I told you that I made the ciabatta, but I also finally made this Turkish-Inspired Pistachio & Cardamom Cake with Pomegranate Cream Filling (posted way back when):


But…it’s a mini version. This was actually only a 1/5 of the recipe, and guess what it was baked in? A parchment-lined soup tin! I made this a couple of weeks ago, sliced it, wrapped it well, and stuck it in the freezer. So, all that was left was the icing. I love these rustic cakes, let me tell ya. During the pastry portion of culinary school (way, way back in the day), cake decorating, pulling sugar, etc., was clearly not my thing. I stuck to cakes from a box, lol. I got up the nerve to try this cake, though, and I’m so glad I did! I sliced a piece from the top before freezing, and it was so moist. I made substitutions of homemade non-fat Greek-style yogurt for butter, and a mixture of coconut sugar and the Berhi date syrup for demerara. As I can’t have too much cream or butter, I went with a snow peak frosting: whipped egg whites, Mexican vanilla, honey, and stevia. This was lovely, and it made me confront my cake fears, haha! This is a wheat-free cake, so please check it out if you have an intolerance.

— As there was a weather prediction of possible 50’s-60’s temps  (early morning) this week, I went ahead and made my ruana. The weather was back to the 90’s before you knew it, though. So super simple, so I am probably going to make another one.The ruana featured in that post has several different styles, including a belted option. I wore mine with a brooch, but here’s a DIY belt & brooch combo (if the color is too summery for you, you could easily go with your current fall fave): Easy summer DIY fashion projects – A chic braided and wide corset belt | diy-enthusiasts.com.

Another use for stencils! Stenciled Tote Bag | Nomadic Decorator.

— At one point (before I decided on a decor overhaul), I had a Frida Kahlo picture in my work office. I always feel drawn to her work for some reason. There’s just something in it that grabs hold of me. I spotted this wonderful piece on her, so I thought I would share it: Style Icon – Frida Kahlo | Design Sponge.

Now I have another wine cork project to work on: DIY Garden Decoration Ideas | Interior Design Ideas.

— 10 rules of Etiquette Everyone Should Know (and Follow!) | wisebread.com.

— Tasty Treats:
Confessions of a Cardamom Addict: Guinness onion soup with bleu cheese croutons.

Oh! I got such a craving when I saw this: Mongolian Beef Recipe | userealbutter.com.

DIY Cider Vinegar | whipandclick.com.

I was going to post this a while back, but forgot. I met a very nice gentleman from Peru who told me these cookies were his specialty. The cookies, and a broccoli-tomato soup that he strongly believes has kept his children from ever going to the hospital (lo their 20-some years). He didn’t give me the magic soup recipe, but he told me where to find the luscious dulce de leche delights: HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE ALFAJORES | recipegirl.com.

Here’s a way to keep summer alive: Fancy or Sandy Fruit Salad, Anyone? | gayahousewives.

Stewed Fruit Recipe – Eatwell 101.

Chinese Scallion Pancake—Simplified Version | chinasichuanfood.com.

5 Healthy Soul Food Options | mademan.com.

Soul Food – American Diabetes Association.

Matcha Sushi Balls | Thirsty for Tea.

Fig Bourbon Old-Fashioned | katieatthekitchendoor.com.

‘Til next time!

My Way, No. 22

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— Honey gave way to maple this go round for the cherry-vanilla syrup from this previous post: 8 Fruit & Herb Honey Syrups. I still had my gift of bourbon from the December Holidays left, so I finally decided to make that float I was keen on. The syrup + club soda + bourbon + homemade vanilla froyo. Yums!

A beer fairy left a bit of brew for the masses, so I thought a beer bread was in order. I sprouted rye berries for a sourdough and used the beer in place of water. Beer made me think of pretzels, so that was the next step. Stuffed with brown mustard, they were a tasty treat! If I had thought about it, I might have made a homemade beer mustard:

I will admit I usually flake off the salt from most of them, haha. I will have one or two with the coarse salt, but then it becomes too much.

I finally made the Sesame Seed Salmon with my homemade mirin (with actual salmon this time vs. tofu). Delish! Make sure to check it out. Quick & easy.

Cheese, cheese, and more cheese! If you love the cheeses, please, please check out my post on Thrifty Ideas for Home Cheese Making & Homemade Cream Cheese. My mom is the one who requested I delve into the homemade cheese world, and I am so glad she did. When Mother’s Day rolls around, I try to find things I can do to please my mom (I know it should be all the time — I try 😉 ). So, many of those things have kept me from blogging this past couple of weeks. As I said in the cream cheese post, my mom adores fruit crepes (filled with a sweet cream cheese mixture). I have made several batches of cream cheese now, and it couldn’t be easier. I initially started with a buttermilk culture vs. purchasing a freeze-dried. The instructions for making your own cultures can be found in the links from the Thrifty post. I’ve now moved on to using meso & thermophilic cultures, as well as vegetarian rennet from the Cultures for Health site (also linked to in that post.). The Curd-Nerd site is SO informative, and I tried to study as much as possible before attempting too much. I recommend anyone just starting out do the same. There are quite a few things to learn, & you don’t want to waste your time or money. So far, I’ve used the recipes for queso fresco, haloumi, traditional ricotta, farmhouse cheddar (needs to age), and I just made this mozzarella:

Queso fresco and cream cheese (or yogurt cheese) are the easiest to make, IMO, and you can always use a buttermilk meso culture (especially if you are just starting and want to keep your costs low). I’ve made the queso and haloumi with skim milk, and they turned out fine (though not as rich). For small amounts of cheese, I started using thin, thin linen napkins (from my grandmother 🙂 ) to drain the whey from the curds. I just wash them, and they are ready to re-use. For larger batches, I started using a large piece of muslin. I will use cheesecloth to line the molds.

— I am enjoying my stainless lunch tiffin, which I must say was a SQUEAL DEAL at my food co-op, Food Conspiracy. *Sidenote: if you’re in Tucson, the co-op has unbleached cheesecloth for cheesemaking.* I hand-stitched a little insulated bag for it with material leftover from another project. I recycled the drawstring from another bag.

The fabric store I purchased the material at was my fave on my side of town, and I am bummed they have closed down. I keep running into others saying they are also upset. Perhaps the location was an issue. It would be nice if a locally-owned shop opened up. After doing this by hand, I thought, I really need to learn how to sew on a machine. It took far too much time, lol. Often fabric stores hold classes, so I may try to tackle my fear of it being an impossible task for me — just take the plunge.

— Other inexpensive projects I managed this week involved concrete. At less than $3 for a 60 lbs. bag, I feel I made out quite well. First off, I partially filled these small tin buckets:

What did I do with them, you ask? OK, don’t think I’m silly (OK, maybe I am), but I made a set of bed risers. A while back, I saw a set of 4 bed risers (upwards of $20) that were essentially a cup with a lift in them. I thought cement/concrete in my own cups would produce the same effect. I just wanted a few extra inches for under bed storage. You just mix the concrete with water, let dry, and voila! I used more leftover fabric around the frame legs so they wouldn’t shift around. This proved fabulous and provided me with the storage space I desired…with very little cost.

And, until I decide to invest in a full-on cheese press, I filled recycled containers with the concrete to weigh down my cheese molds. So far, so good, and I am sure I can come up with a few other ways to make use of the rest of the bag.

— We did decide to invest in the Cuisinart Elite 12-Cup Processor. 10-year motor warranty, with a limited 3-year warranty, 1000-Watt motor. So sorry, Cuisinart was misspelled in the last post. Sometimes, if a word is incorrect once, it will not change it afterwards (I guess it thinks it’s correct). As I previously stated, it has large and small work bowls, so you get 2 for 1. I’ve whipped up pizza dough for my mom, smooth as silk nut butter, falafel, guacamole, banana “ice cream” (using the recipe from the included cookbook with a bit of honey, vanilla, and fresh coconut milk), and shredded coconut (for chocolate-coconut bon bons for my mom). With my previous processor, I used the metal ‘S’ blade for bread doughs, but this model has a specific yeast dough blade. The metal blade works well for pastry doughs. It also includes an adjustable slicing disk.

Right now, I couldn’t be more pleased! Slow cookers and processors are 2 of my most beloved pieces of kitchen equipment. I also found you can purchase an egg white whipping disc separately. If you are in the market for a new processor, I encourage you to watch the demo video on the Cuisinart site. It would also make a great gift!

— One more thing that might sound silly…Last year, I pulled out some vinyl that didn’t work for a project I had in mind. I happened to be cleaning the fridge around the same time and suddenly thought it would be great to line the fridge shelves/drawers. The backing is kind of a thin, breathable fabric. Well, a year later, this one little thing has saved me tons of clean-up time. It may seem odd at first, but spills, etc. wipe off so easily. Or, you can pull them out and wash them.

— Would love to DIY leather (probably with pleather, though) bracelets such as these:

Newset Fashion DIY Jewelry Copper Leather Bracelet | ebay.es.

Hot Fashion Infinity Leather Music Bracelet | ebay.com.

Racer back DIY just in time for summer:
Tank to Racer Back Tutorial | trashtocouture.com.

— The heat has come, so I started to search for DIY patio blinds/shades. I’ve finally made up my mind about which route to take, but I wanted to share this budget-fab project I came across: No Sew Drop Cloth Patio Curtains | scatteredthoughtsofacraftymom.com.

Blue is not my fave color, but I found this room so soothing and peaceful to look at:
eudecoro.com.br.

— Amazing World of Penguins. Awesome pics, must see!

— Good goodies:

Spinach and White Bean Tacos | theskinnyfork.com.

Found another way to use teff: 5-Ingredients Banana Pancakes with Teff Grains (Gluten Free) | fussfreecooking.com.

Hip Girl’s Buttermilk Cake | ohsweetday.com.

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites | lavenderandlovage.com.

Spinach-Stuffed Baked Salmon | Go Red for Women.

Baked Alaska | Great British Chefs. It has a panettone base!

For your retro party: Pineapple Cheese Ball with Pecans | sippitysup.com.

Detox Smoothie | blog.freepeople.com.

Rainbow Sangria | Gimme Some Oven.

Until next time! Have a great day!

My Way, No. 17

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— Yesterday, I left the house without a coat, as I often do this time of year. We’ve had fairly warm days (for the most part) here in Tucson. It was a bit windy yesterday, though, and partly cloudy. So, that set me off looking at coats that straddle the Tucson winter/summer season (beyond my jean jacket 🙂 ). Something like this floral kimono cardigan/shirt/coat would be fab (and, I love the colorful skirt next to it!): Street Style Boho Chic | cloudsevents.com.

I’m ready for it to be summer, already!

— Fab & functional coat/hat rack made from rulers: Dazzling DIY Coat Rack Shelf | frevinco.com.

I love this one, as well: Colorful Wall Hook Design Idea | homeplusdecor.com.

And, here’s a fun idea using a pallet: Pallet Furniture: Recycling Pallets into Unique Furniture Pieces | Pinterest | Vanessa.

— Yums! I made the Pad Thai Popcorn I posted here. Pad Thai has so many of my fave flavors (lime, cilantro, chiles, etc.). I subbed honey for the corn syrup, homemade chili-garlic paste for the sambal, and dried cilantro. I started drying cilantro because I could never use it up fast enough. I really love the intense flavor of it when it’s dried. Spur of the moment, I decided to make popcorn balls after pouring on the caramel mixture. *As a side, cupcake liners are a great inexpensive portion control tool. You can put all sorts of snacks in them, not just cupcakes and muffins. Kids really enjoy this, too.* Once forming them into balls, I only let them cook for another 5 minutes or so in the oven (I was a little impatient! They smelled so good!). I like that this recipe is timed and doesn’t require the use of a candy thermometer. If you don’t want to cook the popcorn on the stove, you can air pop it (my fave way) or use a micro. A brown paper bag sealed with a bit of tape (yes, tape!) works fab in a micro.

I’m so glad I made the popcorn, as it gave me an excuse to prepare a small dish of veggie Pad Thai afterwards (having all the ingredients at my disposal). I subbed soba for my usual rice noodles:

If you love Pad Thai, make sure to check out this very simple popcorn recipe!
I had a bag of random oranges, including a few that looked like pink grapefruit. Perhaps it’s common, but I have never seen this shade before. I remembered the Blood Orange Sorbet I posted for Valentine’s, so sorbet it was. My ice cream machine recipe calls for a simple syrup, so I added that and zest. It was delish, but made me a little chilly!

I found this recipe that warmed me up: Bourbon-Cider Cocktail with Cinnamon + Ginger. This recipe was written to be served cold over ice, but hot sounded good to me at the time.

I didn’t have cider, so I had to make some. I added fresh ginger, cinnamon, and brown palm sugar as it heated through (lemon juice to finish). The final drink was oh-so-good, with a caramel-y profile.

— Apparently, per this article, penguins have lost their ability to taste fish. They are only able to taste salty and sour. Maybe they would enjoy salt & vinegar chips 😉 .

— A while back, my mom’s friend gave me a commercial wood cleaner, and I still have a bit left. I suddenly thought I should look for a homemade concoction before I run out of it. If you use wood cleaner and have thought about a DIY version, I wanted to share this link: Homemade Wood Cleaner/Oil Soap.

— If you reside in Tucson, you may want to check out Habitat for Humanity’s free ‘Write-A-Will’ workshops. Here’s the link for more information. If you are not a Tucson resident, you may look into similar estate planning workshops in your area. Often, they are held at no cost to the participants.

— Today’s Recipes: I was thinking about gumbo a few days ago, but wishing I could have a somewhat healthier version. Then, I saw this: Sweet Potato Gumbo with Cornbread Muffins. This interested me, as I’ve never had dumplings made from a baguette: Boeuf Bourguignon with Baguette Dumplings. I love veggie pizza, but I’m sure you could whip up these Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza Puffs with whatever you like. Champagne Cake, Fritaffle, Crab and Smoked Salmon Salad with Avocado, Fennel, and Apple, One-Pan Salmon Tikka with Jeweled Rice, Tuscan Bean Soup, Best Ever Chocolate Chunk Cookies.

Until next time!

My Way, No. 15

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— Hope you had a terrific Valentine’s and President’s Day! My Valentine’s treats to myself were spaghetti with red sauce, wine, and macarons. As you know, I do not bake a lot of confections. I’m good with breads, quick breads, or simple “one bowl” type of desserts. I’m not sure when I first had macarons, but they quickly became a favorite. I know we did not prepare them in the pastry portion of my culinary training. I thought I would attempt them for Valentine’s Day weekend for a couple of reasons: 1) the price of bakery-bought macarons and 2) the price of bakery-bought macarons. It’s a shame that pastries are not my forte. What you can charge for a little flour, sugar, and butter, haha! Anyway, even though I absolutely love macarons, I have put off making them. I read so many blogs that said making them is akin to rocket science…painful, grueling rocket science, wherein your rocket will never get off the ground…so don’t even try! Then, I found these links last year, and finally got around to it:

The Macaron 10 Commandments

Macaron Myths

If blogs have scared you beyond belief about making macarons in your own kitchen, I suggest you read these, lol! Many of the recipes I’ve seen over the past year make a relatively large quantity, so I found this recipe that made “just enough” for me: “Jelly Donut” Macarons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z4htgSdd8I. It’s a vid, so that’s helpful. I made a few heart-shaped for Valentines & some rounds. The ‘feet’ on a couple of the round ones turned out wonky (perhaps from over mixing the batter, or maybe because my oven temp varies in different parts???). Right after they were done, I took a pic of one with a real poofy foot. It got less poofy after sitting with the filling for a bit:

So, after you let them sit, they may change shape a bit. Even if a few looked wonky, they tasted fab! I decided on pina colada macarons, so I made a pineapple-rum curd, and added a little toasted coconut on top. I used the icing from the “jelly donuts” recipe with beet powder for coloring. I found that macarons are so yummy fresh out of the oven, so I might forego the filling next time! I had to force myself to not eat them all (pre-filling) right then! I’ll keep practicing my macaron technique, and hopefully I’ll improve over time. You can also make nut-free macarons, so I would like to try that eventually.

— I made a few chocolate-covered strawberries (as I posted about here) in a mug for my mom:

I took the pic before I let them chill in the fridge. I chose a very simple mug that matched some other items (the heart is a graphic! Cute!), as I know she has too many vases already. I went the easy route and coated a few with ground almonds and shaved chocolate. So sorry, but I totally forgot: when I saw fruit bouquets prepared professionally, they used iceberg lettuce to secure the skewers (vs. the floral foam I mentioned). I decided to use cabbage as a 2 for 1. My mom LOVES cabbage, so that was just an added bonus (I gave her the rest of the head). Of course, she made the cabbage right after eating a few berries, haha! I think a big bouquet would make a fab party centerpiece. It doesn’t take much to make one yourself, and the savings from purchasing shop-bought are quite considerable.

— I recently caught a couple minutes of a wonderful piece my mom was watching. It featured a woman who raps about Parkinson’s disease. What an awesome way to raise awareness! You can check out some of her story here: Sharon Kha’s Parkinson’s Disease Rap.

— Roll with it, baby…Rolling storage from crates, to wire baskets, to magazine trolleys. Check it out here: Easy Rolling Wire Baskets for Storage | Remodelaholic.com.

— Cute typographic serving trays: DIY Serving Tray Ideas | The Graphics Fairy.

— Typography with a fashion twist: Bleached and Stenciled Typography Shorts | Audrey Moyer | Pinterest.

— I read on a few British sites that we’re supposed to eat pancakes (or crepes) today as it’s Shrove Tuesday. I didn’t know what Shrove Tuesday was, so I had to look it up. I figure any reason to eat pancakes is fab. I made a couple small Tea & Honey Pancakes for myself this morning. I have been craving and drinking mucho Earl Grey for a couple of months, so I decided to use it in my pancake batter. I made these with a combo of oat flour and the coconut flour I recently made. I steeped the tea in skim milk and added a bit of lemon zest. I went with a dusting of powdered sugar vs. syrup. Yums! Of course, I had a little hot Earl Grey to go along with it. Even though it was a small portion, the oats were very filling. Another tasty Earl Grey concoction is to serve it hot with a little honey and bourbon. I had that a couple of weeks ago and am still thinking about it. Will have to make it again soon! Maybe I’ll have crepes for dinner.

— I’ll leave you with a few recipes for your consideration. Don’t forget you can always adjust the recipes with what you have on hand, or make substitutions for items that you cannot eat (or do not eat). Vegetable Pakoras with Coconut Dahl, Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie (with a polenta crust..mmm), Pad Thai Popcorn, Slow Cooker Honey-Ginger Chicken, Artisan Ciabatta Rolls, Sweet Orange and Almond Buns, Red Lentil and Cardamom Soup, New York Strip Steak with Whiskey-Mushroom Sauce, The Monkey Gland Cocktail (great cocktail stories on this blog!).

‘Til we meet again!

Recipes: Valentine’s Day Desserts

Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Strawberries | hoosierhomemade.com.

I’m back with sweet treats for Valentine’s Day! I turned my attention to chocolate-covered strawberries as I do every year about this time. This comes from fond memories of a chocolate shop in Austin, TX that sells giganormous CCS for Valentine’s. They sell a lot around Mother’s Day, as well. You can purchase a dozen in an egg carton, if you like. I really like the idea of putting them in a mug or vase, too, as is pictured on this site:

Chocolate Covered Strawberries | Pinterest | Zena.

This is a very popular idea, and all you need is floral foam (to put your skewers in) and a little greenery (looks like they used kale in this pic). You can be as simple or as fancy as you like. This particular site also has several other ideas pictured, so make sure to take a look. If you use good quality dark chocolate, this can be a relatively healthier type of treat (unless you eat several dozen, which I always want to do, lol. I try to remember portion control!). I don’t care for microwaving too much, but melting chocolate in it is super quick in a pinch. If you don’t feel like pulling out your double boiler, micro is the way to go. It also eliminates water possibly getting into your chocolate and making it seize up. Either way, I think chocolate-covered strawberries are one of the easiest and most elegant things you can make for your Valentine.

Here are a few other desserts to tempt you:

White Chocolate Semifreddo with Pistachios and Raspberries

Strawberries and Champagne (must see — may not be what you think! très chic.)

Gemma’s Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake (video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLjHDpj_bmQ

Slice and Bake Valentine’s Biscuits (Cookies)

Blood Orange Sorbet

How to Make Heart Cupcakes

Waffle Cone Fortune Cookies

Whole Wheat Chocolate Wine Cake with Caramelized Figs

Valentine’s Recipes with CHOCOLATE!

Mini Victoria Sandwiches

Chocolate Cream Pie

Strawberry-Almond Cream Tart

Hippie Chocolate Bourbon Balls

Raspberry Coconut Scones

Heart-Shaped Raspberry S’More Macarons

Instant Strawberry Gateau

Raspberry, Dark Chocolate, Oat, & Coconut Muffins

Double Chocolate Layer Cake

Red Velvet Crepes

The food blogs on my blogroll also have many recipes that would be fab for the occasion. I only have time to post so many, so please check out their sites! A couple of them are primarily dessert focused.

Happy Valentine’s Day, & I’ll see you next week!

My Way, No. 14

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— It’s been a homemade condiment week! I love to look at recipes for homemade condiments, but I usually end up making them with the ingredients I have on hand. I did go ahead and make mirin as I posted about last week. I’ve yet to use it on anything, but I am sure I will re-make the sesame seed tofu (and hopefully salmon, as the recipe originally called for). I didn’t boil the entire mixture, I just added my syrup to my sake:

The great thing about making mirin is that you can enjoy the leftover sake when you’re done! After having those awesome Sriracha Garlic Knux at Maker House, I set about making a whole wheat version. I merged ingredients and concepts from about 4 or 5 pizza dough recipes. Perhaps I will post my actual recipe at some point, but I would like to test it out a few more times. In the meantime, I thought I would link you to a Homemade Lacto-Fermented Sriracha recipe. I just found this and have never thought to do a lacto-ferm version. Anyway, I added parm & garlic to the dough, then basted it with a Siracha-Extra Virgin-Garlic Oil, and finished with a little parm, smoked sea salt, and red pepper flakes. I would have loved butter, but my body has been averse to it (and I was trying to keep it a bit healthier). I was pushing it with the cheese, but it was a small amount per roll. One recipe I gleaned from said a bit of smoked salt can give pizza dough a ‘brick-oven’ appeal, so I thought, ‘why not try it?’ I didn’t have smoked salt, though, so I had to smoke the sea salt I had in the pantry. Maker House had a nice thick ranch they served with them, but I just dipped them in a little extra of the Sriracha Oil. It was a great accompaniment to the Spinach, Red Lentil, and Sweet Potato Curry I made again this week:

I decided to make an individual portion this time, but the pan is almost like 2 servings (with bread) because it’s so filling. Again, I added a little kale and had to improv the curry ingredients. Really a quick and delish dish! More condiment making for Game Day: BBQ Sauce. Yay for my 2nd fave football team winning the Bowl (the first, of course, being the Giants)! After preparing the tofu Fajita Salad with Chipotle Ranch Dressing, I had a bit of the chipotle in adobo leftover. So, I thought BBQ was in order. I made a “kitchen sink” BBQ with just about anything I could get my hands on, adjusting and tasting as I went. I especially love fresh or dried fruits in BBQ sauce. I added a little orange zest to the Sicilian Roasted Potatoes (with a mix of Yukons, Reds, and Sweet Potatoes) this past week and loved it…so, I thought I would add a bit to the BBQ. I cooked the sauce stove top this time, but I love the slow cooker for a big batch. The BBQ went on roasted garbanzos and these BBQ Garbanzo and Brown Rice Tacos with Dried Figs, Pistachios, and Raisins:

Finished with more orange zest. I made the corn tortillas with a press and baked some for ‘hard shells.’ I Misto the baked ones and use a mold so they stay open. It was tricky getting the taco to stand up for the pic, lol. I also cut a few of the soft ones for chips. I made some plain (served with lacto-ferm salsa verde) and brushed BBQ on a few. I Misto’d them, then baked them off in cast iron pans. I cook the plain ones on only one side, but I prefer to cook the seasoned ones on both:

— If you are renting and want to create a bit of personalized style, check out this link on Decorating Ideas for Renters. And, love this link for 15 Shower Curtain Projects, including using a painter’s drop cloth and turning any curtain into a shower curtain.

— I love vintage-style full aprons. There’s no reason why you can’t look stylish while dicing potatoes! I think you could easily make one similar to this black and white damask apron with just iron-on fabric tape (if you do not machine sew, like myself). I have a friend who cleared out her closet and only has clothing that is black, white, or black and white. She said this was an attempt at simplifying her life. She doesn’t have to concern herself with the items matching or not, haha. Even though black is not my color (on top, anyway), I admit to using the black-and-white-clothing-simplification method all the time now. If you have procrastinated and haven’t planned your outfits for the week…just grab something black and white. It goes from cas to business to formal very easily.

— Baby Chicks Have Left-Right Number Bias Like Humans.

— A few mental health articles that touched me this past week: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/01/nj_assembly_acts_to_let_teens_seek_mental_health_t.html, http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/sloppy-word-selection-feeds-mental-health-stigma-expert-1.2206217, and http://globalnews.ca/news/1797926/watch-coffee-shop-in-north-vancouver-offers-employment-and-hope-to-people-with-mental-illness/.

— I adore this picture:

Click on the pic or this link to take you to: Dr. Kathleen Young: Treating Trauma in Tucson | Mindful Monday.

— As always, I like to include a few tantalizing recipes that have come my way: Root Veggie Crisps in a Crispy Pancake Bowl (looks fun!), Roasted Makhana, Cheesy Greek Swirls, Mussels, Bacon, and Brie Tartlets, Cold Busting Coconut Gummies (cute & healthy!), Beef and Blue Cheese Risotto. I had a nice 1/2 iced tea & 1/2 lemonade with Bourbon for Game Day, so I thought I would look for other tea cocktails: Chamomile Honey Whiskey Cocktail. 15 Easy and Low Calorie Healthy Fruit Desserts.

Have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you next time!

My Way, No. 13

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— Very interesting piece: Umami Taste Buds Are Important for Your Overall Health. It seems kelp tea helps if you have decreased umami taste sensitivity. I’ve never tried kelp tea, so maybe I’ll check it out.

— I told you that I tend to accumulate far too many kitchen gadgets, etc. So, of course I immediately thought, oooh, I need this banana guard, sandwich box with a bamboo lid/prep board, and stainless utilitarian soup canister.

— I’ve found that seemingly little things can make me feel so luxurious…a bit of rich cream added to a special dish, fresh picked flowers on the table, a candle lit bubble bath with symphony music playing in the background. This weekend, I felt a little luxury when I used my homemade coconut oil for a soothing hot oil & deep conditioning hair treatment, followed by using it as a body rub (with a little essential oil added). It’s nice when we have a bit of time to pamper ourselves. After my last coconut endeavor was so successful, I decided to purchase even more. As I said, it can be a labor of love, but it is so worth it. I had an idea that coconut milk/oil/flour/butter making would be a great “party” idea. You know, like when your so-called friends invite you to a painting or moving “party” (basically a way to get cheap labor, lol). Or, you could make it a family tradition like making pies, tamales, etc. You could end the party with pina coladas or something.

— My coconut milk, cream, and flakes went into several of my recent meals. I forgot to mention a quick tip in my last coconut post: I wrap the coconuts in a towel before giving them a few good whacks (to crack them open). This eliminates the sometimes flying shards from going all over your kitchen. I’m sure you can find all kinds of additional wisdom online, but my other suggestion is that you make sure you have a very sharp paring knife handy (and possibly a knife sharpener). This will make removing the brown “skin” from the meat much, much easier. A dull knife is nobody’s friend.
I started craving turkey as soon as I saw this recipe for Thai Turkey Meatballs with Lemongrass Coconut Sauce. But, I didn’t have any turkey 😦 and didn’t feel like going to get any. Then, I remembered the recipe I recently posted for Lentil “Meatballs” with Lemony Pesto. So, these recipes collided, and I was extremely pleased with the results:

I took the basic ideas for the lentil “meatballs” and gave them the flavorings from the Thai turkey dish. For the “meatballs”: lentils (1/2 whole, 1/2 mashed), egg, little olive oil, tofu (frozen, thawed, liquid squeezed out), s&p, whole wheat bread crumbs (taken from the innards of the Niçoise sandwich I made), shallots, lemongrass, ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce, cilantro, homemade chili-garlic paste (oven-dried chiles & garlic cloves), and finely ground walnuts. The pesto sauce called for walnuts, so I decided to use them in the actual “meatballs” instead. I popped them into the freezer for an hour or more, then browned them on the stove. After browning them on all sides, I had “meatsquares” vs. “meatballs,” haha. I reshaped them after they cooled a bit. I finished them in the oven. I made the recipe for the Lemongrass Coconut Sauce, using fresh turmeric and foregoing the star anise (as you know, anise is not a fave flavor of mine). The recipe called for full-fat coconut milk, but I used my coconut water to dilute the cream’s fat content a bit. I tried to make up for the lack of anise and coconut fat by punching up the flavor with: red pepper flakes, onion powder, a little sweetener, and a pinch or two of mustard. This flavor combo satisfied me, and the finish of cilantro and lime zest made this recipe sing. Served up with soba noodles, this meal was fab! It was made better by maple bourbon milk. I have to find ways to use my Holiday gift of bourbon, so this was my second go round (the first was the Sage-Peppercorn Old Fashioned I previously posted). I’m not a mixologist, so forgive me if the portions, ingredients, etc. are not scientifically correct. I just make what tastes good to me 🙂 3:2 fresh coconut milk to bourbon, maple syrup to taste, blended for froth, served over crushed ice, garnished with fresh grated nutmeg. I separate the coconut cream from the water so I can mix them together at my whim for different recipes. I think the cream to water ratio for this drink was 2:1.
I also made the Low-Fat Banana Pecan Cranberry Granola Bars, subbing coconut for some of the nuts. I actually used a combo of walnuts and pistachios. I had cranberries in the freezer, so I decided to dry them myself instead of purchasing them. I used a little less than was called for and added a bit of maple and wheat germ. They were just mildly sweet and do actually not call for any added sugar. The sweetness comes from the banana and applesauce (also acting as binders). After cutting them, I stuck them back in the oven for 15 min. They were soft and chewy, and I was craving a crunchier bar. It’s probably because I really enjoyed the last crunchy batch I made wherein I accidentally turned up the oven too high, haha. I used the Low Cal Almond-Raisin Granola Bar’s method of grinding part of the oats:

— Tofu 2 Ways: I had baby bok choy to use up, so that’s what attracted me to this recipe: Sesame Seed Salmon with Mirin. I didn’t have any salmon, though! So, tofu it was. I was so hungry by the time this hit the plate, so it doesn’t look as good as it could. I tried to make it appear more dignified by only putting a small portion on the plate, but I really gobbled up twice this much:

One of my new top ways to prepare tofu! So simple, yet SO good! Can’t wait to try it with salmon. After looking at the ingredients of my store-bought mirin, I thought I should start making it myself. Here’s a recipe if you dig making your own condiments, etc: Homemade Mirin. If you’re really serious about it, try brewing your own sake for the mirin: Home Brewed Sake. My second new top way to prepare tofu is as a steak alternative in this Fajita Salad with Chipotle Salad Dressing I recently posted:

I made the marinade in the morning and by dinner time, this tofu was fajita flavor-packed! I only changed the recipe by adding a little balsamic and a pinch more sweetener. The tofu I used in both of the recipes was frozen, then thawed. I really love the texture freezing gives, as I’ve said before.

— Super cute and easy for any craft-skill level DIY Geometric Canvases. Also, very cool Aluminum Foil Drawings.

— DIY Black Lace Manicure & DIY Draped Skirt.

— RECIPE TIME! I made this Spinach, Lentil, and Sweet Potato Curry, and it was delish! I didn’t have the exact curry ingredients, so I had to improvise. I served it with brown rice and added a little kale. I didn’t take a pic because I started in on it as soon as it was finished. Speaking of curry…I always like to keep a ready-made spice blend in the pantry as a back up to my own blend (as with many other items like stock, condiments, and such). I quickly grabbed what I thought was a SQUEAL DEAL for curry powder and found it contained MSG 😦  . Why does curry powder need MSG??? Anyway, this recipe was fab, and I think I will be making it again this week. I have yet to try pho, but this recipe looks quite yummy: Umami Crispy Pork Pho. Months ago, I was saying to an acquaintance, “I want to try this pho I keep reading so much about.” I pronounced it ‘foe,’ and she said it’s ‘faaaah’ with your voice raising like another octave at the end of the word. Just like I said ling-er-ee when I first read lingerie, haha. Afternoon Tea delights from those in the know. Banana Split Cake, Honey Beer Bread, Jam Roly Poly with a2 Milk Custard, Sweet Potatoes Stuffed with Cheese, Black Beans, and Corn with Avocado Crema, Chicken Cordon Bleu Pizza.

‘Til next time!

My Way, No. 11

*If you’re new to my blog, you may want to read this for info on what ‘My Way’ posts are all about. 🙂 *

— Has one of your New Year’s Resolutions been to get more organized? I am going to make this ‘minimalist-chic’ entryway organizer. Crafted from a simple wood frame & bungee cords, it’s one of the easiest and most practical projects I’ve seen. As I have a few days to myself, I’m doing a lot of clearing out and re-organizing of things right now. How do you collect so much stuff? I err on the side of ‘pitch it, donate it, or give it to an unsuspecting friend or relative ;)’ if I think an item has fulfilled its purpose in my life. This comes from previously living with a roommate and relatives with “stuff” in every nook they can find — they cannot have an inch of unused space anywhere. I do have a tendency to collect way too many kitchen pieces, though…gadgets, glasses, dishes, etc. Sometimes, I have to force myself to not purchase them. And, speaking of the kitchen, take a look at this link with 50 Clever Ways to Organize Your Pots and Pans.

— The Detox Drinks have been a hit! Since the last ‘My Way‘ post, I’ve also prepared the Natural Daily Detox Remedy, Beet Juice Smoothie, Mango Ginger Lemonade, Detox Smoothie w/ Pineapple, Spinach, & Ginger, Citrus & Green Tea Smoothie (very grapefruit-y, so you’ll have to love grapefruit), Grapefruit-Cado Sunrise Smoothie, and the Detox Beet and Carrot Smoothie. I left the beets and carrots raw in the beet/carrot smoothie instead of steaming them. I added a good handful of cranberries, a 1/4 of a lime, and a tsp. of sweetener, as well. Delish! I realized the Cranberry Pomegranate Detox Juice I linked to from another site is the same as the Red and Green Festive Cocktail on my original post. So far my faves have been the pineapple-spinach-ginger (just needs a little rum — teasing 😉 ), and the Grapefruit-Cado (I added just a little extra banana).

— EATS & DRINKS: Homemade Chili-Garlic Paste, Lentil Meatballs with Lemony Pesto, Cinnamon Whole Grain Power Pancakes, Philly Cheesesteak Stew, Grilled Lobster Tails with Sriracha Butter, Cinnamon-Orange Animal Crackers, Harvest Apple Sangria with Bourbon and Thyme, Nutty Florentine Bars. Also, I want to make a batch of granola bars soon, so I found these low cal treats: Low Cal Almond-Raisin Granola Bars & Low-Fat Banana Pecan Cranberry Granola Bars. I usually do not use a recipe for granola bars, but I wanted to try to control the portions and cal count. There’s not a lot of sense in eating something supposedly healthy if it’s going to have 500 calories per serving, lol.

— I updated my blogroll and photo gallery.

— As you know, I have a series of posts on mental health. I will try to post another installment soon, but I like to take the opportunity to share a few related articles here. I found this quite heart-breaking: http://atlantablackstar.com/2015/01/11/racial-discrimination-behind-high-suicide-rates-young-black-men-proving-dire-need-combat-stigma-depression/

— I would like to do another WhirlwinDISH post soon, too, but my meals have pretty much been the detox smoothies, salads, bagel sandwiches, and the salmon-Thai coconut soup recipe collision. I saw a recipe for a Salade Niçoise Wrap, so I started craving Niçoise. I put together a simple one with cold roasted veggies and a light vinaigrette. Besides just lettuce and tomato, Niçoise was the first type of salad I ever prepared. It is the reason for my love of cold, salty potatoes.

Pic’d: boiled eggs, roasted turnips, boiled Peruvian potatoes, roasted white asparagus, roasted red bells, roasted golden beets, radishes, roasted rutabagas, grilled marinated artichokes, tuna, toasted walnuts, capers, and black olives. I have never been able to get used to the color of purple potatoes. They came in a mixed bag, and it was the sole boiled potato in the fridge. I subbed asparagus for my normal haricots verts. I need to pick up anchovies, so I had to make-do without them. I added the walnuts because I read they are terrific in upping your serotonin levels.
After posting about How to Eat in Europe on a Budget, I saw a perfect picnic opportunity. What do you do when you have a few days to yourself? Have a “girly” day: an indoor picnic for one, pretend you are in Europe & put on your Maurice Chevalier records, soak in a bubble bath (Homemade Bubble Baths), give yourself a facial (10 Homemade Facial Scrubs), bubbling water spa pedicure, warm hand wax and manicure, deep condition your hair (Homemade Deep Conditioner and Hot Oil Treatment), don your best fluffy ‘hotel-style’ robe and slippers, and turn on your heated back and neck massagers. My picnic included a sandwich inspired by the Pan Bagnat I posted several months back. I stuffed a round mini-loaf with all the same Niçoise toppings except the turnips, rutabagas, and walnuts. I also added a little avocado and raw green bell pepper. Guess what I used for the bread? The bagel recipe, of course! I know you probably think I’m going a little too far with the reshaping the bagels, haha. That super-quick bagel recipe, though, is the next best thing for me since (well, it is sliced bread, so that analogy won’t work)…since Noosa Honey Yogurt, I guess.

And, as I am keeping it alcohol-free for a couple of weeks, I made myself a little kicked up green tea in a flask (it helps with the illusion 😉 ): Green tea, honey, ginger, lemon juice, lemon zest, & red chiles. Who needs bourbon when it’s this good? A set of 2 of these flasks in a nice leather bag came by way of a very good family friend. We lost touch with him for years, and through very miraculous and random circumstances found him again. Anyway, I have him to thank for this lovely picnic memory. I cherished a few pear slices and some sugar & spice frozen cranberries (raw sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves). After the Holidays, I always keep craving cranberry sauce, so this satisfied my need. I think I could eat a whole cup or two in one sitting, I love it so much. A lot less damage this way, with probably less than a 1/4 tsp. of sugar.

— Scroll down to see this wicked decent DIY Zipper Cuff Bracelet and also check out this DIY Gold Hinge and Chain Bracelet.

— Article: Why Are So Many Drinks Flavored with Honey? Because it’s yummy??? I received honeyed bourbon as a Holiday gift. Yums. This article also includes comparisons between honey, agave, xylitol, and stevia. What about maple? Maple bourbon is good, too. Scratch my earlier statement about the green tea…maple bourbon might be all the world ever needed.

‘Til we meet again!