My Way, No. 32

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

— I’ve told you how I love jackets. I really like this style (with the shirt & pants) I came across: My Style | Pinterest.

With the Holidays fast approaching, I’m sure some of you have youngins in recitals and whatnot. I found this super easy no-sew tutu tutorial I wanted to share: Adorable DIY No-Sew Tutu | simplyrealmoms.com.

You could probably use the same technique for an adult-sized petticoat for, say, a vintage circle skirt (or adult tutu).

— Adventures in Food: After making the citrus-mirin eggplant spread, I decided to prepare a simpler version of one of my all-time fave dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana Zoodles.

Instead of going through the whole bake-fry process, I just cubed it, then added it to my sauce. I think I’ve prepared this at least a dozen times now, and it’s still going strong. This pic, I prepared the zoodles separately. Many times, I just add them right into the sauce, though. I think I prefer them that way. I did my sauce on the stove, but I think I should make a big slow cooker batch soon (if my cravings continue). Extremely filling without being too heavy. Yums!

Moosewood Mixed Vegetable Curry from this post:

I became distracted and almost scorched the forbidden rice. I caught it just in time! This was fab & filling. I only altered it slightly by adding a few raisins while it was cooking (in addition to garnish), just a few mistos of oil, and I threw the carrots and tomatoes in just a couple of minutes before it finished. This can be a super versatile recipe, and you can surely experiment with the veggies you have on hand. Will be making this again soon!

Remember this fancy-dish post: Beetroot-Cured Salmon with Chrain and Herb Salad? While I would love to present this absolutely gorgeous recipe one day, I took the fanciness down a few notches (to my simple level, haha). For my everyday needs, just plain ole bay-goohlz & lahks:

I really liked this change-up from my usual gravad lax recipe. I used rum (as this recipe called for instead of my usual brandy), shredded beets, orange zest, black peppercorns, sea salt, coconut sugar, and basil. I like to weight mine down before placing it in the fridge. Also in this pic is the Rosemary Cranberry Spread from the Pates & Spreads post. I used homemade yogurt cheese for the base. So simple & tasty! I made mini sprouted rye bagels with charnushka (using the NY-Style Bagels recipe) for both. I didn’t have lovage, watercress, or borage flowers for the salad, so I improvised with celery leaves, mint, and toasted walnuts. Yummy! I think I will leave the chrain a bit chunkier next time.

2nd fishy use: Eggs Mornay with Beet-Cured Salmon, Mushrooms, Asparagus, and Chive Oil.

Lighter sauce with skim milk and a wee bit of parm. Sautéed mushrooms and asparagus in the bottom, topped with some sauce, eggs, more sauce, finished with lox, steamed asparagus, and chive oil. If I could have more cheese in my diet, I think I could eat this everyday. Even with a little toast, very satisfying, without being overly heavy.

Last adventure for today: Spicy Sweet Potato-Roasted Apple Soup in a “Pumpkin” Bread Bowl:

I really wasn’t sure how this would turn out, but it wasn’t that bad. The soup part I knew I could handle. Very simple, just baked sweet potatoes, roasted apples & mirepoix (carrots, scallion & leek whites, celery), fresh garlic, chile arbol, nutmeg, few pinches garlic & onion powder (lends a little different profile vs. fresh) few pinches of coconut sugar, a couple of orange segments (at the end, just before blending), water, s&p. I’m not very artistic (even with something as seemingly easy as a pumpkin), so that part made me a little nervy. I think I did OK, considering my lack of talent. I decided to use the bagel dough recipe (without the boiling, just a few spritzes of oil), as it’s a very quick, dense bread. I only made 2 bowls to test it out (1/3 of the recipe, 1 cup of flour w/ 1 TBSP vital wheat gluten). I checked on them after 20 minutes baking time, and they looked just about done. The top of the “stem” was very brown, so I covered it with a piece of foil. They were nicely browned after an additional 5 minutes.

I used sweet potatoes as I prefer them to pumpkin, but pumpkin soup in a “pumpkin” bread bowl is the obvious alternative. The addition of cream would up the luxury factor. I took the bagel dough shortcut, but I know there are all sorts of fab bread recipes out there that would fit the bill. This size bowl is nice for a small app, but you could double it for a main.

— Celebs Call For End To Mental Illness ‘Stigma’ | news.sky.com.

— 17 Genius Uses of Witch Hazel | mixer2mower.com.

— After seeing this, I’m indecisive about making a stone or pottery serving tray. Maybe I’ll do both. Mosaic Serving Tray or Plate | craftideas.info.

How awesome are these silver and gold leaf concrete bowls? Golden moon surfaces | architonic.com.

— Today’s Lovely Dishes:

Most of the time, I have to be in the mood to eat sausage (unlike bacon). But, what to do with all that leftover T-Day turkey? Here’s an idea: Turkey Breakfast Sausage | paleoaholic.com. 

I’m thinking we might just skip the turkey again this year and go for an all-carb meal of spaghetti, wine, and bread, though.

Homemade sausage would be a fabulous addition to this: Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole | Sally’s Baking Addiction.

Some evil person left Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies in the lunchroom (and baskets of candy in other places). I barely escaped with just one cookie consumed, and I never looked back, lol. Looking for mint recipes, I came across this: Homemade Thin Mint Cookies | flavorthemoments.com.

Make sure to support your local Girl Scouts’ cookie sales, though, too (if you have the opportunity)! I have to give mine away, or else I can easily eat the entire box, haha.

Simple Milk Kefir Yeast Bread | culturesforhealth.com. “Kefir contains various strains of yeast. These yeasts are similar in properties to those found in a sourdough starter, so kefir can be used make bread with no additional yeast or sourdough starter!” I wonder if this would work with water kefir as well???

THE MOTHER OF ALL BREAD DIP RECIPES: OLIVE OIL INFUSED WITH FLAVOR AND TEXTURE | glowkitchen.com.

I love a pb&j smoothie! Several smoothies to choose from here: Delicious Smoothies to Enjoy! – Essential Health.

Flavor up this classic recipe any way you like: Duchess Potatoes Recipe – Chowhound.

Vegan Butternut Squash Veggie Pizza | Minimalist Baker Recipes.

Tastes like waffles in a cup, the blog says: Irish Brunch Cocktail | theflairexchange.com.

See you next time!

My Way, No. 28

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

Hope Rosh Hashanah has been a wonderful time!

— Adventures in Food: Breakfasts for Dinner! I usually have fruit during the morning hours, so here are a couple of evening meals I recently enjoyed:

No, it’s not eggs! It’s a fake-out chickpea flour & tofu omelette. I found the recipe on the same site as the recently posted English muffins: Potato-Avocado Tofu Omelettes. Now, I do love eggs, but I thought the recipe sounded intriguing. If you recall, I did a lot of potato recipes the previous few weeks, so I went with sautéed kale, mini sweet peppers, criminis, and avocado (though, the potatoes in the pic looked SO yummy!). I sautéed the criminis in a little homemade Worcestershire and red wine. This is one of my fave ways to have mushrooms. Sometimes, I add a little butter and thyme. If you’ve never made your own Worcestershire, I just looked up this recipe: Homemade Worcestershire Sauce. I like to make mine with apple & balsamic vin, blackstrap molasses, honey (maybe stevia), smelly fish ;), tamari, garlic, onion, mustard powder, chile, some warm spices, and tamarind. If you run out of anchovies while making Caesar dressing, try Worcestershire to pinch-hit. If you’ve never seen tamarind, this is what it looks like (it’s also available in other forms, like paste):

Apparently, the original version of the recipe calls for Indian black salt to create a more ‘authentic egg experience.’ As I lacked such an item, I subbed the sea salt I smoked. I also ran out of nutritional yeast and replaced it with parm. The recipe indicates you should use a cooked chickpea flour vs. raw, and it gives illustrations of how you can tell the difference (if you purchase your flour). I ground dry peas for my flour and just cooked out the rawness a bit. I really enjoyed this meal (though I will still whip up a traditional omelette every now and then). Check out this recipe for sure if you don’t do eggs.

You know my obsession with carrot cake! Carrot cake steel-cut oats with shredded carrots, raisins, pineapple, walnuts, fresh coconut, ground cinnamon & ginger, pure Mexican vanilla extract, pinch of salt. As with my rice pudding, I like to put the vanilla and salt in after it’s finished cooking (cinnamon & ginger during). I throw the carrots in about a minute before the end of the cooking time (except garnish). Everything else is a topping. I forgot the honey in the pic, but I usually finish with a bit to sweeten.

I made versions of this dish several times: Daikon Radish Pasta with Corn and Tomatoes in Creamy Coconut Sauce.

I didn’t have daikon, so I subbed squash. In this pic, I also bulked it up with 1 oz. of whole wheat spaghetti. If you want to lighten up your traditional pasta dishes, a blend of a veggie spiral and a flour pasta is a great way to go. I just eyeballed the ingredients, but the sauce was fab. I can see it translating to all kinds of things. I used a blend of coconut water & milk I had in the freezer.

I told you I made the lovely Cherry Tomatoes & Basil Sauce from the last My Way post, and that gave birth to these roasted tomatoes:

I know roasted tomatoes aren’t the prettiest thing to look at! This has to be one of my fave preps in probably the past 6 months or so, though. So simple, but I could have made a meal out of them. I made several batches. I filled the pan with a little water (about halfway up to the tomatoes), roasted garlic cloves, salt, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, and basil. After one batch reached room temp, I had a hard time not just popping all of them in my mouth right then. They were SO GOOD! I also used them to top pasta (veggie & wheat spag), and this flatbread:

I adapted the flatbread/pizza dough from this recipe: The Best New York Style Cheese Pizza.

So, again, maybe not the most attractive meal in the world, but this was so tasty (prepared it a couple of times)! I made a honey-whole wheat dough with a little parm and garlic powder added. I adjusted the salt a bit because of the parm and smoked sea salt on the crust (like I did with the Sriracha garlic knots). I can’t remember where I read about the smoked salt, but I really like it. I added a little cornmeal to the bottom of the pan & replaced some of the oil with homemade non-fat yogurt. Sauce was a mixture of homemade non-fat yogurt and homemade (skim) feta (I hafta keep my dairy + fat portions low, boo 😦 ). Little finish of pomegranate molasses.

— Last My Way post, I forgot I wanted to tell you about the convertible Henkaa dress fabric. It’s a wrinkle-resistant fabric. If you’ve ever been to Chico’s, it kind of reminds me of a wrinkle-resistant travel-knit fabric they have. The young lady demo-ing the dress spilled something on it at lunch. She had a spare dress scrunched up in her purse and changed into it after the mishap. No ironing or steaming. The first dress was a floor length, and the second above-the-knee. She was very tall, and both dresses looked fabulous on her. After that last post, I watched a few of the various style vids. You have to see them. Amazing!

— I saw this on my food co-op’s social page. I think a lot of people know this type of thing goes on, but it’s always still shocking to see it in print: A Guide to Food Industry Front Groups | centerforfoodsafety.org.

— I found this article heart-breaking, but I’m glad they took the billboard down:Mental Health Advocates Topple Kenneth Cole Billboard Falsely Linking Mental Health Conditions and Gun Violence | bizjournals.com.

— I read back through a few of the articles from the last installment of my Mental Health Series. This article really hit me, so I wanted to post it here (and I may post it a few more times). Schizophrenia is not a split personality, there are four main symptoms | thejournal.ie. I think everyone should read this. It’s not just about this particular illness. It deals with some heart issues. I think you will find it enlightening.

— DIY Dip Dye Jeans | Fusion e-Magazine.

Maybe you could also DIY something like this: Wheretoget.it.

— I am in the market for a different (neutral-colored vs. my last vibrant color choice) heart rate monitor watch. While searching for one, I came across this sports bra made for the heart sensor chest strap: Pure Lime Compression Bra for Heart Rate Sensors – High Impact.

— OK, these are totally fun and hysterical! I love the bar, cat bed, and speakers.
DIY Retro Furniture — 12 Things To Do With Vintage Suitcases | Loffee.

— Deodorizing Homemade Lavender Linen Spray Recipe | soapdelinenews.com.

— Today’s Featured Recipes:

My mom likes to watch her sugars (and sodium), but she doesn’t care for several sugar subs. She especially doesn’t like stevia! She tried to use the same ratio as white sugar, lol! So, I have to sneak these things into her food sometimes, hehe. I’ve never used the sugar sub called for in this recipe, but you may be able to sub the sub if you need to:
Low Carb Cinnamon Sugar Cake Donuts – Gluten Free | Modern Low Carb.

Walnut and Olive Spelt Bread Rolls | Quite Good Food.

Brie, Fig Jam, and Serrano Ham Crostini | Flavor the Moments.

Tequila-Orange Grilled Shrimp | Cookbook Recipes.

Jewish Holiday Recipes: Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwiches | Gourmet Kosher Cooking. An idea you could adapt very easily. They suggest chocolate doughnuts with coffee or cookie and cream ice cream.

Chef JD’s Cuisine & Travel Website Turnstile | Cherokee Hominy and Tomato Soup.

This is not really a recipe, but you could really let your imagination run wild with this one: Home cured duck ham, Hendricks compressed cucumber, summer fruit and nitro sorbet. Due South Chefs Ltd.

Ginger Candy Appletini  Recipe | aroundmainline.com. I like the caramel apple garnish 🙂

Take good care of yourself, and I’ll see you next time!

Healthy Appetizer Recipes

24 Healthy Appetizer Recipes | FaveHealthyRecipes.com.

“When go-to appetizers consist of loaded nachos to deep-fried onion rings, healthy appetizer choices seem to be few and far between. For those watching their weight, appetizers can be a serious diet destroyer. Often, party appetizers are not very filling, so we tend to eat a lot. When a table is full of finger-licking-good food, it is hard to resist. Before know it, we just consumed hundreds of empty calories. A few seemingly harmless nachos could add up to 500 calories to your meal – and that’s before the main meal! However, there is a way that you can enjoy appetizers without all the excess calories. Slim down your starters by following these healthy appetizer recipes.”

My week started with a no-frills dish of sautéed zucchini. The next day, I started craving fried zuc, but you know I rarely pan or deep-fry foods. So, I knew a bit of panko, a Misto of oil, then a bake-fry was in order. I first started using panko (back in the day) after seeing a television cooking program. I don’t recall what the preparation was. The main reason for watching the show was that the chef was attractive, haha. Panko preps come out so nice and crunchy. I had just uncovered my slow cooker full of homemade non-fat yogurt, so I thought perhaps I could use it to replace an egg/flour coating. I have been using the yogurt a lot lately to replace oil and eggs in a variety of dishes (and baked goods). I just mixed in a little s&p and garlic, then coated with the yogurt. I love a little dust of cheese (like parm or romano), herbs, and garlic after they come out of the oven. The following day, I was still in a fried zuc mood, but had to sub yellow squash. I took a pic this time. I adore creamy horseradish dip (as they serve at many restaurants), so I made a low cal dip with fresh horseradish, mustard, light mayo, and a pinch of sweetener. I love to put “stick” dips in a shot glass — makes for easy dunking.

The fried zuc got me in a pub food mood, so I made a few batches of baked sweet cinnamon sweet potato chips, then baked Italian red potato chips. Then, I decided I wanted fried mushrooms. I was out of panko by this time, though, and didn’t feel like preparing a batter. So, I moved on to sesame seeds. Why not? I used portobellos this batch. (I made chalkboards this week, so that’s what’s in the background.)

The dip was a blackberry mustard. I actually mixed in way more blackberry after I snapped the pic, so it was more purplish. I used the same yogurt coating method, only I added a bit of dried rosemary to the yogurt. I haven’t been using my rosemary too frequently, so I may have to dry a fresh batch. I can’t seem to keep up with my dried cilantro! Anyway…making these lightened up apps had me searching for a few more recipes. So, I thought I would share this post. I love standard fare of things like the fried zuc, mozz sticks, nachos, onion rings, quesadillas, stuffed mushrooms, wings, etc., that have found their way onto so many menus. Sometimes, I just want something similar, but lighter, though.

Hope you enjoy these recipes. Have a great rest of the weekend!

My Way, No. 16

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

— A great story on a local (Tucson, Arizona) mental health hero: http://azjewishpost.com/2015/local-woman-is-champion-for-mental-health-recovery/. Read my post on one of the many facets of her amazing work here: https://lacashionista.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/mental-illness-awareness-week-mental-illness-facts-and-myths-cafe-54-tucson-az/. This past week, I was also touched by several stories featuring the Duchess of Cambridge’s Children’s Mental Health PSA: http://au.ibtimes.com/kate-middleton-releases-new-video-childrens-mental-health-issues-says-stigma-attached-mental-health.

— I made a fabulous whole wheat garlic-rosemary sourdough bread loaf this past weekend, adapted from this recipe: Whole Grain, No Knead Sourdough. In addition to the garlic and rosemary, I used my own starter (vs. the established called for) and added a bit of molasses. I really like the method of tipping your dough onto a floured plate and using flour and parchment in your dutch oven as is discussed in this previously posted recipe: 5-Minute Artisan Bread. So, I incorporated that method into this loaf. I replaced the flour in the dutch oven with cornmeal this time, though. The dutch oven I used is larger than the recipe’s instructions, so my loaf had a greater width. As soon as it was finished, I thought, this is perfect for soup! There are so many soups one can prepare, so I came up with a Chunky Ratatouille Soup. Basically, everything you would put in ratatouille (roasted squash, peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes, oregano, etc., with a little added vinegar and jalapeno) blended up. I was going to make it totally smooth, but after a few pulses, thought chunky would be more interesting. With the garlic-rosemary sourdough alongside, it was hearty and satisfying:

After the Tea & Honey Pancakes I prepared for ‘Pancake Day,’ I did go ahead and make crepes for dinner. I wanted something savory, and curry was calling to me. Whole Wheat-Black Sesame Crepes with Lentil and Vegetable Curry:

I used a combo of whole and heirloom wheat. I love crepes a little more brown with crispy edges when I prepare savory versions. Sometimes, I make them more delicate, as when I prepare them for my mom or for dessert crepes. These were scrumptious reheated in the oven (without any filling) until they crisped up even more. I love the toastiness of the sesame seeds!
More soup: I saw this Hot & Sour Broth with Prawns and immediately had an Asian restaurant craving. I’ve never made it before, but it was so simple and so, SO good. Just as fab as takeout! I didn’t have prawns, so I subbed a bit of seared tofu. If Hot & Sour is one of your fave soups, be sure to check out this easy recipe. I also decided to prepare the Eggplant with Garlic Sauce I raved about in my post on our local establishment, China Szechwan. I merged this recipe with this one (without the pork) and obtained delightful results:

Shrimp with Garlic Sauce was always my fave, so it’s no wonder I really enjoyed an eggplant version.

— Just an update from my previous post on using salt to kill off your weeds. I have now tried both regular/fine and coarse salt. Both work wonderfully, but the coarse takes longer to dissolve. So, you might have white patches for a bit. Either way, it’s so nice to be free from harsh-chemical commercial weed killers. The organic ones are fab, but they are usually a bit pricey. If you think straight salt is not for you, try the homemade solution I mentioned in that post.

— This article gave me the greatest chuckle of the week: Canadian MP Blames Tight Underpants for Exit from Parliament. Well, good for him for telling it like it is, haha! Awesome!

— If you can stay between the lines, you can make this: DIY Dress Design: Clever Color Your Own Clothing | dornob.com.

— I adore this colorful Moroccan-themed retreat: Moroccan-Style Retreat and Rooms | diycolorburst.com.

And, you can purchase these, but I think a grouping of eye-catching, colorful lights would make a great DIY project: Creative Silicone Lamps Chandelier | aliexpress.com.

— Today’s Recipe Theme: Caramel. Why? Just Because. Vietnamese-Style Caramel Pork (could sub another protein if you do not consume pork), Vegan Caramel Sauce, No Knead Caramelized Onion and Olive Focaccia, Chocolate-Covered Caramel Coconut Bars, Roasted Sea Bass with Parsnip Puree and Caramelised Garlic, Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars, and Caramel Apple Cocktail.

Have a great rest of the weekend, and I’ll see you next week!

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!

My Way, No. 10

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

— The first ‘My Way’ post of 2015! Happy New Year! It has really helped me to write these posts with short bits of randomness. Saved quite a bit of time. I hope you are finding a few things of interest to you. I am going to try to update my blogroll and photo gallery soon.

— I was saddened by reading about the passing of former NY Governor Mario Cuomo. I am not a fiercely political person (though I have my beliefs and convictions, as most do), but this news still touched me. As you know, I originally hail from NY. His name stands out for me among a select few politicians holding office during my lifetime. I pray for the consolation of his family during this time.

— A few days before Christmas, I passed by the local mall and was thrilled to see several beautiful flowers blooming. I was informed they had just been planted that day. I felt like they were there just for me! If you recall from my ‘Still Lifes‘ post with the flower cupcakes, I had been a bit gloomy due to the weather. Seeing the newness of “spring” life in the winter gave me an instant cheering up. I guess living in the desert has its perks. I went back a couple of days ago to snap a few reminder pics:

— Has your New Year’s resolution to get moving and exercise left you with aches and pains in body parts you didn’t know you had, lol? 🙂 I recommend stretching very, very, VERY well before, during, after, whenever, and howmuchever you need it (after warming up, of course), but I thought I would also share a link for several natural remedies. It includes herbs, essential oils, and even kombucha (hadn’t heard of that one before! I’ll have to research it a bit further.): Sore Muscle Relief.

— I feel like I am one big head of lettuce walking around, I have consumed so much, haha! I’ve also been whipping up some of the 32 Detox Drinks I posted. I have enjoyed all of them thus far: Super Hydration Juice (with strawberries and beets), Cranberry Bliss Smoothie, Golden Detox Drink (I’ve made this before, but just coincidentally), and Orange Surprise (love the celery in this drink). I also made one from another site with cranberries, kale, and pom: Cranberry Pomegranate Detox Juice. And, I have been sipping the Ayurvedic Detox Drink several times a day (which I also saw here) without the fennel seeds. I have never been a big fan of fennel/anise/licorice-y flavors. Perhaps I will get brave one day and try it. I absolutely love the smoky cumin, though, and that’s what makes me keep making batch after batch. I’ve never had it in a tea, but it’s a new fave. My goal is to prepare a different one of the juices, teas, or smoothies each day for a couple of weeks. I think the variety will keep me interested. I haven’t been using the exact recipe measurements, just using the ingredients as a guideline.

— I took a pic of one of my recent salads that was so simple, but SO good! I actually had it for breakfast vs. my normal fruit. That morning, I just kept thinking about the butter lettuce I had purchased. So, salad it was. I rarely purchase butter lettuce (it’s not always available & many times it’s a lot pricier), but it’s my fave type. As it was a chilly morning, I decided to top it with a few warm roasted veggies: beets, butternut squash, shallots, and baby carrots. Just a bit of extra-virgin olive oil, thyme, and s&p to flavor the veggies. I added pistachios for a bit of crunch and extra nut-trition, and sesame seeds for some toastiness. I always buy sesame seeds raw & unhulled, then toast them as I need them. They are usually less expensive that way, and it gives you the toasted or raw option. I am kind of obsessed with sesame seeds, and now I am loving them on salads. I made a quick vinaigrette from maple, dijon, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vin, and a bit of onion powder. This was such a delicious combo, that I reheated the leftover veggies and had another half portion. I usually try to retain a bit more nutrients by not overcooking veggies, but they can be so yummy when they get a bit more caramelized. So, I think the second go round was even better.

Perhaps if I were not trying to eat lighter right now, a bit of goat cheese would have been a pleasant addition. As my body has decided to hold some sort of revolt against full & low-fat dairy products, it’s just as well (the evilness!). I will be continuing my fast from them or severely limiting my portions for a while, I think. After cutting the butternut, I took my suggestion and roasted the seeds with the Thai Lime Chili Cashew seasoning I posted at Thanksgiving. Yum!

— More on the lighter meals front, I prepared the Salmon Noodle Soup from the previous ‘My Way‘ post, and adored it. Simple and satisfying. I used whole wheat spaghetti instead of rice noodles. I didn’t have any baby corn, so I subbed some kale. Then, I saw Thai Coconut and Veg Broth on the same site and decided to merge the two recipes. I kept the kale and salmon, and included the Thai soup’s veggies and coconut milk base. Delish! They are both now in my go-to soup repertoire.

— The Make-A-Wish Foundation is so wonderful. This story really touched me.
Great news: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/dec/28/guardian-observer-christmas-appeal-tops-300000-pounds

— Dash it all, too bad I didn’t see this before Christmas! These light bulb penguin ornaments are the cutest. Oh well, perhaps keep it in mind when that time rolls around again (or get a head start). Several other adorable options, too: 20 DIY Christmas Ornaments. Check out this very cool (and très simple, I might add) fluorescent ink project! Homemade Sidewalk Chalk.

— DIY Neon Clutch from a VHS case. Coolness…

— Recipes: If you’ve said pshhhaw at all of this post-Holiday “cleansing and detox” business, lol, check out this warming Hot Buttered Whisky. Or, how about a Loaded Italian Sub with Roasted Red Pepper Aioli (OMGoodness, looks SO good!) and 4-Ingredient Coconut Cream Chocolate Bars for dessert? I’m sure you could find some way to spin the bars healthy, like with raw dark chocolate, raw coconut, maybe even some nutrient-rich almonds 😉 Works for me 🙂 . A couple other healthier options, haha: Roasted Harissa Veg w/ Kale and Ginger Pilaf and Protein Power Lentil-Amaranth Patties. Perhaps if I decide to venture towards fennel again, I would prepare something along these lines: Mozzarella Bruschetta w/ Shaved Fennel & Courgette. I’m sure I will at some point, as our tastes can change over the years. It looks rather tasty!

See you next time!

My Way, No. 6

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

— After posting so much about the waffle sandwich I had at the Viva La Local Festival, I thought I would link you to a resource for mesquite flour. I figured it may not be available in many places outside of the Southwest. You can purchase it at Native Seeds/SEARCH’s online store (see my pics from our local Tucson store here). It’s organic and Kosher, and a great alternative if you cannot have wheat.

— I know it’s winter time, but I had to share these totally adorable DIY Fall Boot Cuffs. One of the easiest projects I’ve seen, and you could certainly carry them into these winter months.

— Hanukkah, Chanukah, however you spell it…will soon be upon us. This blog post had different intentions, but I think this twig star is a perfect DIY project for the occasion (I also see by a couple of the comments that others agree). And, check out this website for modern decorations and edibles (the modern bite cookies are stunners!)

— Read about Brazil’s biggest mass wedding. Awesome! It was held in Rio de Janeiro and involved nearly 2,000 couples!

— I had a little disappointment this Thanksgiving…for the past few years, my mom and I have been working with the Jewish Federation and the Salvation Army to carve turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals served to the public. This year, we didn’t get a call and found out too late that the SA had a new director take over the program. I look forward to seeing the same folks each Holiday, so I was kind of bummed. Some of them have been carving the turkeys for 15 – 20 years, so I can imagine they were also disappointed. Hopefully, we’ll get to participate in some way for the Christmas meal.

— I did make the berry and pom Antioxidant Detox Smoothie I posted after Turkey Day, and it was delish! I used my homemade yogurt and whey along with some fermented beets. As I said, it made me a little chilly, so I had a cup of hot tea afterwards: turmeric, ginger, cayenne, cinnamon, and lemon. Really a warm and soothing blend.

— I also sipped on hot tea all day yesterday, as it was rainy and cold (like mid-50’s, low 60’s, which is cold for Tucson). I had a ‘bread bowl’ from Beyond Bread (a local bread and pastry shop), so I decided a hot bowl of soup was in order. I didn’t know if I would use the bowl for a dip or soup when I purchased it, but the weather made my decision for me. They only have sourdough white bread bowls (I usually buy whole grain breads), but I really wanted it at the time. I figured it would be a treat meal. I started to make a cream of asparagus soup, but eventually made a curried chunky tomato. It’s such a comfort food for me:

The bread was SO good! I had to force myself to not eat the entire bowl in one sitting. I usually try to buy whole grains (as they are healthier), but I still love refined bread and flours…and white rice, OMGoodness…I really have to restrain myself if I start eating white rice, lol. I’ll try to post a few pics from Beyond Bread soon.

— Just saw these DIY Mint Julep Favors on the Curbly site. Too cute! More DIY here: 101 Homemade Holiday Gifts. All sorts of fun ideas from food to beauty to fashion and more.

— Yummy-Looking Food & Bev: Ficelle Picarde, Kimchi Ssambap, Butternut and Sweet Potato Lasagne with Sage Toasted Pine Nuts and Nutmeg, Berry Entremets (Beautiful! If you don’t speak Russian, you’ll have to translate), Homemade Gingerbread Syrup, Vegan Whole Wheat Maple-Oatmeal Bread.

See you next time!

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!