My Way, No. 31

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

— “Hot enough for ya?” is an expression you often hear in these neck of the woods. It’s kind of exciting when you actually get to put a coat on the first few cooler weather days. I get over it eventually, haha, but those first few times can be fun. I love shorter, lighter trenches like this, as they can double as a dress (value purchase!): 10 Pecas Basicas No Amario Feminino | uapestilo.blogspot.com.

Speaking of value, I found this office wear page with a lot of great ideas: Work Outfits on Pinterest.

I’ve always liked the idea of versatility within your clothing pieces, so I was attracted to this pic. I love suit jackets, and they are one of my staple pieces. I have a ton, and I will pair them with anything from actual suit bottoms (skirts/pants), jeans with heels, jeans with flats or sneakers, printed skirts…really, quite a few possibilities.

— If you’re in Tucson and haven’t heard about it, I wanted to let you know about RISE Equipment Recycling. “RISE Equipment Recycling Center processes donated office equipment and furniture to sell at a reduced price to non-profit organizations, their clients, and low income familes and their children.” This is a fabulous organization that can always use donations. They also use volunteer staff, if you think that’s something you might be interested in. When I worked as a non-profit operations manager, they outfitted our entire computer center (used for job training computer classes). What a blessing! There were tears of joy!

— Today’s Adventures in Food: Mayocoba beans x 2! Last week, I cooked up a pot and found a couple of different ways to make use of them:

I have always thought I preferred stuffed white potatoes, but this sweetie proved me wrong. Both bean preps had a base of tomato with homemade bread crumbs (from my whole wheat-teff bread) and ground nuts. I added the bread and the nuts recalling the lentil “meatballs” I made here and here. I liked that they gave them a meatier texture. I just varied the base by using “chili-type” seasonings for one & “sloppy joe-type” seasonings for the other (with the addition of green bell peppers). I also smashed half the beans for the sloppy joe, as was indicated in the original lentil “meatball” recipe. I’ve seen several vegan/vegetarian bacons from veggies, but I was unsure of an exact method. For the potato, I just decided to bake off the criminis I had (until crisp) with my smoked sea salt. Pork bacon also has a little sweetness to me, so I hit it with just a few pinches of coconut sugar. Homemade non-fat Greek-style yogurt & chives.

I added homemade coleslaw and zucchini bread & butter pickles (I use turmeric for the pickle coloring) to the sloppy joe. I have never made coleslaw in my entire life, so I was really winging it. I didn’t use a recipe, and I’m sure I broke a few “My grandma makes it this way” rules. I really do not care for it by itself, but I found I really enjoyed it on this hamburger. So, I went for it. I used the Hawaiian rolls recipe from the bread post (I smashed it down a bit) with spelt and vital wheat gluten vs. AP flour. 2 super easy, super casual, yummy meals! I am not sure if mayocoba beans are readily available in many parts of the country. If you’re unable to find them, check out our local Native Seeds/SEARCH online store (also offering a ton of other goodies).

From the last My Way, I made mini Chinese scallion pancakes:

I actually used the traditional recipe from the blog instead of the simplified version I posted (with whole wheat pastry flour & VWG). The traditional version is pretty simple, too, with a food processor — sort of like a tortilla, kicked up with some scallions and 5-spice. I saw a recipe for Asian-style quesadillas, but I forgot to record it. So, I just decided to make my own version with the pancakes. I fermented black beans, then used them to make this Black Bean Sauce – Homemade Spicy Version. Akin to a chunky hoisin. The sauce + pulled chicken + the pancakes. Delish! The pancakes can be pretty addicting, so be forewarned. If you want to make your own hoisin or 5-spice blend, here are a couple of recipes I found: Homemade Hoisin & Chinese 5-Spice Powder. Pic’d with homemade squash ribbon kimchi and squash noodles with ginger-sesame sauce. I wring all of the excess liquid from the noodles before adding the sauce.

Rustic Italian Bread from this post, using whole wheat (+VWG) & the stencil technique. Perhaps you could use edible paint or glitter for the stencils, as well? I added a little beet powder to the stencil flour, but you could do all beet or some other fruit/veg powder:

Was fab with a couple of patés I made and dried figs. I’m always craving dried figs. I would like to find a good figgy-filled cookie recipe. This was a lighter-style wild salmon, white wine, and shingled carrots paté:

— This candlestick holder topiary says it’s for Christmas, but I think you could create one for any time of the year: DIY Christmas Centerpieces.

Or, maybe think about alternatives to the pistachios, like coffee beans or dried berries.

The Busy Broad: DIY Blinged Out Flask.

— Today’s Featured Delights. Hope you enjoy!

Pavlova with Red Wine Cherry Compote and Mascarpone Whipped Cream | Cooks with Cocktails.

Napa & Co’s Sea Bass w/ Artichokes & Blood Oranges – CT Bites – Restaurants.

Eating richly even when you’re broke | Thai Recipe: Son In Law Eggs. 

Just one of those simple, scrumptious meals. You can easily make it vegan or vegetarian, too. Asian: Sesame Chicken and Noodles/ | KeepRecipes : Your Universal Recipe Box.

Miso and Citrus Glazed Eggplant | quitegoodfood.co.nz.

Edamame Navy Bean Salad w/ Orange-Balsamic Dressing | Go Red for Women.

For your inspiration: 25 Yummy Fruit Desserts | designsnext.com.

Pumpkin Spice Margarita | realhousemoms.com.

Take care, & see you next time!

My Way, No. 12

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

— I was extremely busy this past week and could not find the time to blog. So, I will try to let you know some of the things I’ve been up to. But, before we get into all of that, I wanted to express my deepest appreciation to the late Martin Luther King, Jr. and his family. I, like so many others, would have never had the opportunities that have come my way without them. I believe MLK’s legacy has been felt across all of the nations. So, today, we honor that legacy. It encourages one to stand up for what one believes in. Common men and women have sometimes had as great an impact on society as royalty and world leaders (if not greater, in some instances, perhaps).

— From the Arizona Jewish Post, I thought this was a very thoughtful MLK, Jr. Day article.

— You know I love food and often write up all sorts of food-related tidbits on this blog. On this MLK, Jr. Day, I thought it would be cool to showcase a few chefs and recipes from the US and Britain (as you know, I adore British culture & food). Speaking of Britain, have you ever seen the television show Chef? I do not recall when it ran because many times we (the US) receive British programming much later than the original air dates. Perhaps it was from the 90’s…it was such a fab and funny show. I’m sure it’s in some sort of digital format, so check it out if you get the chance.

Avocado Tacos & Brown Butter Roasted Tomato Pasta by Latrice Fowler, African-American Chefs Shine in Atlanta, Black America Cooks, The Top Black Chefs Around the World, 3 Black Vegan Chefs You Should Know. From Britain: Mustard, Bacon, and Caramelised Onion Scones & Pea, Courgette, and Parmesan Rosti w/ Tangy Tomato Dressing by Ainsley Harriot, Spicy Curry Carrot Chutney by Jo Wesley and Avril Rogers, Pancetta Wrapped Scallops w/ Quince and Pear by Patrick Williams, Chai-Spiced Ginger and Date Tea Loaf by Kimberley Wilson, Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds Savoury Biscuits by Enwezor, Lamb, Yam, and Butternut Squash Soup by Lenny Henry, Nice and Spicy Thai Chicken Salad (Larb Gai) & Vegetarian Nut Roast Pie w/ Cranberries by Lorraine Pascale, Citrus and Pomegranate Salad w/ Chili Honey Dressing & Lime and Cranberry Bread and Butter Pudding by Levi Roots.

— Also from Britain: Is the Media Industry Sufficiently Diverse?

— Have you ever been under a time crunch and forced to go to places and do things you would rather not? That’s how last week was for me. Sometimes, my whereabouts/locations can make things difficult. I managed to make the Minimalist Entryway Organizer I wrote about. Instead of bungee cords and a wood frame, I went for a solid wood plaque and elastic. I attached the elastic with a staple gun and drilled a hole in the back for hanging. Such a practical idea for your keys, glasses, etc.:

Also, I’m making a shelf, so I stained a cedar board (after power sanding) with a mixture of coffee and black tea (as I wrote about in my post on The Many Uses of Food Powders). I used soybean oil for finishing, but I’m sure you could use any fixed drying oil (like linseed, hemp, walnut, or sunflower). Super easy and inexpensive. The lighting wasn’t great, so I do not think the pic (before and after) does it justice. It’s a rich caramel color — turned out beautifully:

— I had to pick up a few items for my mom and snapped a couple of cute DIY craft pics:

These DIY’s were made by the store staff. The ‘button letter’ would be totally fun in a child’s room. Or, if you have a more eclectic decor, you could probably make it work in any setting (possibly changing up the color scheme). First initials for couples would be a neat idea.

— What have I been eating this past week? Well, I made a few more of the Detox Drinks with a repeat of the Grapefruit-Cado. I forgot to mention that anytime the recipes call for juice, I use whole fruit. It was such a busy week that I didn’t get a chance to make granola bars. Luckily, I found some organic store-bought ones that were wickedly reduced in price. SQUEAL DEAL! They saved me! I always like to carry some sort of snack bar with me when I go out (so I don’t grab at the nearest candy protein bar in a vending machine, haha). And, I had a couple for snacks in place of my (of late) usual nuts, figs, oatmeal & honey, or za’atar roasted chickpeas. I’ve found the chickpeas curb my cravings for sweets (as you know, I have a sweet tooth). I did have time to whip up a quick cream of roasted garlic and white asparagus soup (with olive oil roux & skim milk, finished with a little extra-virgin and chiles):

And, the Sicilian Roasted Potatoes I made for Christmas have made an appearance 4 or 5 times now. Perhaps I will take a pic soon. I’ve started using a mix of baby Yukons and sweet potatoes. Really quite delicious. As I had a lot of running around to do, I made a batch of egg sandwich fillers. I reheat them in the oven or on the stove, but I suppose you could use the micro (not too long, they might get rubbery). I just used leftover veggies and cooked them in oval rings to fit my homemade bagels. I start them on the stove top and then give them a hit under the broiler:

1) Spinach, Red Bell, White Asparagus, Garlic 2) Kale, Black Olive, Red Onion 3) Broccoli, Feta, Chile (just a little bit of cheese, and my body seemed to handle it OK) 4) Marinated & Grilled Artichokes, Capers, Tomatoes.
Other than that, I began to have a few heavier meals starting with a yummy hamburger (on a bagel, of course 😉 ) and a side of healthy Brussels and smashed baby Yukons bubble and squeak.

— I love to collect tea tins, so I was excited when my fave step-uncle brought me back this Burapa Bird’s Nest Beverage from his trip to Malaysia:

— I was inspired by this Pitaya Breakfast Bowl to purchase dragon fruit for the first time. Wonderful! I consumed some raw and threw the rest in the freezer for smoothies:

— Remember the DIY Silk Scarf Kaftan I posted? Well, here’s a DIY Kimono Cape along the same lines. While running errands for my mom, I saw someone with a gorgeous kimono fabric. You can make this piece with just a couple of scarves, needle & thread, though. Also, make sure to check out the link from this blog post on how to dye shoes.

— From organization to DIY suds: 8 Laundry Room Hacks, Tips, and Ideas.

Take care! See you next time!

Edible Holiday Gifts

Snowy owl Christmas tree biscuits | BBC Good Food.

Biscuits means ‘cookies’ (or crackers) if you’re in America, haha. It took me the longest time to figure that out. A 2-for-1 edible ornament. Adorable! *Sidenote: In case you saw my ‘Test Post,’ I figured out the problem. This post was too long, as I suspected. I removed a few unneeded spaces.*

I’ve been thinking about edible Holiday gifts for a bit, so I thought I would share a few I’ve come across. As I mentioned in my post about that decadent Cheesecake Martini, food can be a fab gift option for a variety of reasons. I know there are a ton of ideas out there, but I tend to try to find recipes that are fairly simple or have few ingredients. Elaborate cakes and cookies are not really my gifting (literally), but I can handle quick breads, log/freezer cookies, and fudge pretty well. I have a collection of ‘soup cans’ that I will be using to bake a few yeast breads and/or quick breads in. My food processor is a blessing these days and really speeds up mixing and kneading time. I rarely knead anything by hand unless it’s a very small quantity. I would like to finally get over my aversion to fruitcake, so perhaps I will scout a decent recipe soon. My memories are still so scarred and haunted with neon-colored glacéed fruit-filled “cake” resembling a brick (in taste and texture, lol).

If I had time, I would list even more ideas. I am running a little late with my Christmas preparations, though. So, I need to get a move on! As always, please check out some of the wonderful recipes from food blogs on my blogroll for more inspiration. I also have a category for ‘Recipes, Food, and Drink’ on my blog menu, so you might glance at that or my ‘My Way’ posts, as well. I think most of these recipes could translate to just about any holiday or celebratory occasion.

Homemade Extracts
Homemade Chili Oil
Coconut Bauble Truffles
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Quinoa Crispies Treats
87 Calorie Brownies
Just Beet It 5-Ingredient Red Velvet Fudge
Homemade Chocolate
Soft Pretzels
Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Muffins with Rosemary
Cake Batter Popcorn
Raw Chocolate Pomegranate Bark
Pumpkin Cheesecake Snickerdoodles
Spicy Blue Cheese Shortbread Cookies
Gemma’s Homemade Chocolate Fudge (watch the vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB9j8e8KWJo) I have made fudge before, but I have never thought to cut it into anything but squares. Cute!
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Bread
Eggnog Truffles
Vegan Seeded Banana Bread w/ Dried Figs and Turkish Apricots
Salted Caramel Bars
Homemade Orange Liqueur
Mini Cream Scones (a jar of homemade jam and/or cream would be a nice addition!
10 Mason Jar Gift Ideas (several edible gifts, plus a few extras)

I hope you are having a marvelous Holiday season, and I wish you and yours the best!

Kathy

Recipes: Thanksgiving

Guest Post: Apple Walnut Tart with Maple Custard from Baking A Moment | Hip Foodie Mom.

Well, it’s getting to be about that time. For those of you reading in the States, it’s countdown time to Turkey Day. I know those of you outside the States are probably wondering what all this fuss is about, lol. I see many of the blogs I read in the UK and other places are already on to Hanukkah and Christmas. I posted this gorgeous Apple-Walnut Tart on my previous blog, but missed re-posting it here. I thought it to be perfect for Thanksgiving, though, so here it is again. It does not contain wheat, if you have allergy issues.

As I have been thinking about rounding up recipes to post this past week, I was struck by something: I don’t really remember many of the family Thanksgivings I had growing up. I vaguely recall one or two. I think most of my memories are from the last few years. Perhaps sometimes you think you remember things based on what others tell you. And, maybe talking about traditional foods evokes certain memories that cannot necessarily be pinpointed to a certain occasion. There was a tradition of pasta at one point, but I cannot recall how it started. I think maybe I started it, as I’m the only one in the family so desperately attached to it. Then, a few years ago, I decided to go all out with the normal turkey and trimmings. Each subsequent year it was less and less of a production. I love to cook, but I was exhausting myself. I was so worn out from my job the last couple of years, that I actually supplemented the meal with restaurant food! So, this year, I am not giving myself all of that stress.

I had several years I spent with my “adopted family” versus my own. As our family food heritages were the same, much of the same types of dishes were prepared: sweet potato pie, cornbread dressing, collard and turnip greens, baked mac & cheese. My mom always made apple pie, too, in addition to the sweet potato. The times I spent with my friends’ families or my step family, the dishes were much different: pumpkin pie, white bread stuffing, green bean casserole.

I’ve tried to gather a few recipes to add to the more traditional ones you may already have. I wasn’t really seeking out the healthiest types of dishes (although some are on the healthy side). Most of the recipes are not that involved, as you probably have enough going on that day to add too much more to it, haha. I tried to list a recipe from each of the food blogs on my blogroll this time, but please do check their entire blog for more fab inspiration.

Appetizers

I think apps and desserts are my favorite part of any type of gathering. When I prepared a big family meal for the day, I found I had to make sure to have enough snacks out pre-turkey. Otherwise, people try to sneak some of the dressing, etc. while everything is still being prepared, haha.

Crock Pot Bourbon Glazed Kielbasa Bites
Goat Cheese and Cheddar Carrots Not a recipe, but take a look at the pic to see how to make it. SO adorable!
Thai Lime and Chili Cashews If you can’t have nuts, you might try the seasoning on roasted pumpkin or squash seeds. I made roasted seeds from the delicata squash I recently had with my own seasoning blend. I was going to use them for a salad, but they tasted so good warm…they were consumed quickly, lol!
Also, here are links to previous posts for:
Crab and Goat Cheese Guacamole
Homemade Cheese
Homemade Crackers
And, DIY serving tray/plate ideas for your cheese/fruit/nuts/olives, etc. from previous ‘My Way’ posts here and here.

The Bird

I always use a brine for my turkeys (cornish hens, etc.), but here’s something I’ve never tried:

Roasted Tea-Brined Turkey Breast

Dressing

Cornbread Dressing with Apples and Chorizo

Rolls & Savory Biscotti

Soft 100% Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls You can use this as a base recipe for many shapes of rolls. I really like fan-tans.
Parmesan-Rosemary Biscotti

Veggies & Sides & Salads

Chilled Sweet and Sour Cucumber Noodles
Green Beans with Tomatoes and Feta
Roasted Butternut Squash with Black Garlic and Miso
Tennessee Honey Corn Pudding Whiskey is the secret ingredient!
Sticky Roast Chatenay Carrot Medley with Pomegranate Molasses
Rosemary Sweet Potato Stackers
One-Pan Spicy Rice
Roasted New Potatoes with Lemon and Thyme
Horseradish Mashed Potatoes Horseradish makes everything better. I could almost eat it by itself, I love it so much!
Previous links for:
Maple-Shallot Brussels Salad
And, if you make traditional sweet potatoes with marshmallows, don’t forget about the Homemade No-Corn Syrup Marshmallows recipe I recently posted.

Cranberry Sauce

Here’s a 2 for 1: Grab-n-Go Sweet Potato Cranberry Quinoa Power Bowl. Use the spicy cranberry sauce recipe for your Holiday meal, and then keep the cranberry love going with this energizing power bowl.

You can also use it for a leftover turkey waffle sandwich like the one I had at our Viva La Local Festival. I just can’t get away from thinking about that sandwich!

Desserts

As I said, sweet potato and apple pie have been the standing traditions in my family. I brought in the new tradition of mini or individual desserts. I have always loved any type of mini/petite dessert display. I love being able to sample a little bit of all kinds of tastes. It’s the same reason I’m fond of buffet-type meals.

Buttered Pecan Pots de Creme
Individual Pumpkin Ginger Cheesecakes
Melt-in-Your-Mouth Butter Cookies
Caneles
I cannot seem to link to videos properly, but check out Gemma’s 3 Bigger Bolder Holiday Pies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53SW4HAyxqU and if you have any desserts that are crying out to be a la mode, make sure to view Gemma’s popular No Ice Cream Machine Required, 2-Ingredient Ice Cream Base video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j70yTq2ysLQ. I first started watching Gemma’s vids after seeing a gorgeous ‘Naked Wedding Cake’ she made. The cake is ‘naked,’ as it has no icing (just powdered sugar), just FYI. I posted it on my previous blog, but I also missed re-posting it here. I am not great at cake decorating, so it’s right up my alley! She has new vids on Thursdays (and sometimes even more days of the week), and they are always so fun.

Drinks

Homemade Cranberry Liqueur Very versatile! You can use this for a host of things.
Funfetti Coffee Creamer After you’ve had your bubbly, here’s a fun funfetti way to perk up for football games and such.
Previous links for:
Rhubarb Shrub Sparkler
Sage and Peppercorn Old Fashioned
The Queen’s Cocktail

I hope you enjoy these recipes. If you don’t have the exact ingredients available (or cannot have some ingredients, for whatever reason), don’t let that stop you from creating your own version. You can use the recipe as a starting point to springboard your new ideas off of. You may be surprised at what you can come up with!