It Will Last Forever, This Feeling

The weather is getting better up here, still rains everyday but not all day. No more snow, which my plants are thankful for. My new work schedule is going well, there's something great about having 4 days off a week that automatically makes life better. I've been riding my bike, taking extra classes, cooking all weekend, gardening and reading. All the things I like. 

fried egg taco with braised leeks and black beans

This house has the most amazing flowers right now, I thought they were fake! 

History With Me

Sorry about the lull. I'm workin' a little somethin' up to post...soon. Really. 

Summer Nights

This was yesterday. Still snowing off and on today & cold as the arctic out. I already have my suitcase packed for Catalina in May. 

Not Like Them

Pour Some Sugar On Me

Homemade honey wheat bread with home canned strawberry jam. I even picked the strawberries. E-mail me for the recipes, they are too long to write here. 

I Knew That You Knew

Snickerdoodles!

1 3/4c   All-Purpose Flour

1/4c      Cornstarch

1 tsp     Baking Powder

1/2c     Margarine, softened

3/4c     Sugar, plus 1/2c set aside

1/2c     Vanilla Soymilk

1 tsp    Vanilla Extract

3 tbsp  Ground Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350F. Coat a baking sheet with oil, or parchment paper.

Whisk together flour, cornstarch, and baking powder in a bowl. In a separate bowl beat margarine and sugar until fluffy. Beat in soymilk, and vanilla extract for 30 seconds or until smooth. Add flour mixture and beat until smooth. 

Make cinnamon sugar by whisking cinnamon into remaining 1/2 c sugar in a small bowl.

Roll dough into 1 inch balls then roll in cinnamon sugar, coating completely. Place balls 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, cool on wire rack.

recipe adapted from vegetarian times 9/07

Lets Get Loose

Nights out with Tammy are the most fun ever. Kings for food and drinks, then bands! 

Lacey says I have Fergie hair. Fergalicious!

Its the Coconut Coolouts!

Stand Up

My mom and brother are joining the ranks in the SF torch free tibet protest, look for them on CNN. Wish I were there! Pics to come.

Cookie Cutter

Found some Myzithra greek goat cheese in the bargain cheese bin at the whole foods and decided to recreate The Spaghetti Factories fantastic Brown Butter and Myzithra Broccoli. I think I ate a pound of broccoli. Myzithra is a hard goat cheese that is fairly salty and doesn't melt. $9.99/lb at the WF.

My Version

1 tbsp Margarine, melted

2-3 tbsp Myzithra cheese, finely grated

1/2 lb Broccoli, trimmed and cut in to medium sized pieces

Steam broccoli in steaming rack until just soft. Drizzle with melted margarine and top with cheese. Pretend you're at the Jack London Square Spaghetti Factory. 

Herbal

This morning I made these with some lavender from my yard. mmmm.

Lavender Pear Muffins

1 1/2 c  Flour (I use whole wheat pastry flour usually, but all purpose will do)

1/2 c    Sugar

2 tsp    Baking powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 c    Milk (I use soy)

1 tbsp  Lavender flowers, you can get these in the bulk spice/herb section of the store

1/2 c    Butter, melted and cooled (I use margarine)

1 Large Egg, beaten (or egg replacer)

1 c peeled, diced Pear (about 1 pear, you can also use an apple)

Preheat oven to 375.  Line or coat 12 muffin tins.

In a large bowl sift all dry ingredients together, then make a well in the center.

In a separate bowl whisk together milk, lavender, butter and egg. Add to the flour mixture and stir by hand until batter is evenly moistened. Fold in 1/2c of the pear.

Fill the prepared muffin tins 3/4 full, tapping the bottoms gently to release air bubbles.

Sprinkle the remaining pear over the muffins.

Bake 25 min, until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan ten minutes then transfer to a cooling rack.

Recipe adapted from David Berry @ CIA

Ya No Te Veria Mas

I've found lately my life is pretty boring, leaving little to blog about. I do cook a lot though so I'm going to make a point to put some foods on here with their recipes, maybe you'll see something you like one day. Oh, and I pass this motel everyday and laugh at the sign.

lentils with spinach

easy & quick with stuff thats really good for you

1/2 lb Spinach(about 1 bunch) wash well & chop into bite sized pieces

1/2 c Lentils

1/4 c Onion, chopped

2 Garlic Cloves, minced

1 Dried Bay Leaf

1 tbsp Olive Oil

1/2 tsp salt

pepper

Wash spinach and set aside. In a medium saucepan combine 1 quart water, lentils, onion, garlic and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, partially cover and simmer until lentils are cooked, about 15-20 min. (careful not to over cook lentils, makes um mushy). Drain and discard bay leaf. Add the spinach, oil, salt and pepper to taste. Cook over medium low heat until the spinach wilts, about 2 min. eat up.

recipe adapted from Everyday Food 3/03

Because The Night

It's been snowing a lot lately. I thought it was supposed to be global warming. and spring.