Now Breathe

Such is life that it brings busyness to you all at once. I've accepted this and sort of thrive in hectic schedules. Some things in my life would never get done if it wasn't for the threat of a deadline.

I tend to bring more upon myself during these busy episodes. One time I gave us a day and a half to move our entire house into our parents. Oh yeah I was pregnant, oh yes then I said I'd come into work the next day - at 3:30 am. Needless to say I wasn't there until 5:00 rushing, in pain, sad to leave my house, and nearly in tears due to exhaustion. Not the best at time management - see next episode.

I will also plan a trip to the store because we are in desperate need of butter and toilet paper. This trip cuts into work and cleaning time but who wants to be stuck in the loo without paper in sight? I pack everyone up, run through the store, come home unpack and start working. An hour later the girl yells - "we're out of paper." That's when I realize I picked up butter, limes, milk and absolutely no toilet paper. There goes another 1/2 hour of my life running another errand, all the while wondering when the laundry is ever going to get folded and put away.



Of course during this chaotic load I decide waffles are an absolute necessity. In fact most weeks I deem it necessary to have waffles. It actually makes the other 4 days of the week easier in the realm of breakfast. The kids and I love Mark Bittman's recipe for yeasted waffles. It's actually very easy to mix these the night before and waking up 10 minutes early to cook them is so worth it.

Every effort so far of me making gluten free waffles has been nothing sort of disaster. Seeing as I had a wedding to finish, cleaning, taxes and work outside of the house this week I decided to try a gluten free version as well as the regular. I mean let's make it pour right?

I'm so glad that I go totally crazy some days. These were just as good as the original. Crispy outsides, creamy insides. My favorite part - they toast up beautifully the next day. I like to stash extras in the freezer for days when I have all the time in the world to make breakfast, but I can just easily toast up a waffle.

Gluten Free Yeasted Waffles
adapted from Mark Bittman's Overnight Waffles

3/4 cup sorghum flour
1/4 cup almond flour
3/4 cup potato starch
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
1 1/2 Tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter melted
2 cups hemp milk (or regular milk I've used both and both work great)
2 eggs separated

The night before mix the first 10 ingredients in a large bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. The next morning start your waffle iron heating while you finish the batter. Separate eggs and add the yolks to the batter and mix. In a large bowl whip the egg whites until they hold soft peaks. Fold the egg whites in to your batter. Follow your waffle iron instructions for making waffles. Enjoy!



Now all that's left is to just breathe, another busy season is surely on it's way.

Lovely Weekend

People spend their Valentines in so many different ways. Some search for the perfect gift for days. Some pick it up on the way home. Some celebrate the day wishing it was never invented.

Me, I'll be spending the whole weekend with 4 people that fill my heart so very full. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive. Just a simple weekend warming my heart.



If you're in need of some warmth I've got just the perfect cup of tea for you. Inspired by Starbucks London Fog Latte.

Vanilla Tea Latte (dairy free)

3/4 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 vanilla bean split
3/4 cup rice milk
1/2 cup hemp milk
1 earl grey tea bag

In a small sauce pan over medium heat stir together the sugar and water. Scrape the vanilla bean and add it to the pot. Drop in the vanilla bean. After the sugar is dissolved leave the simple syrup to cool. Remove the bean. Mix together the 2 milks. I like to heat the milk using my espresso machine because I like foam. You can heat the milk on the stove or in the microwave. After the milks are heated add 3 tablespoons of the vanilla syrup and the tea bag. Let it steep for 3-5 minutes. Enjoy.



Happy Valentines day! Enjoy any way you choose.

Bandwagons

This week we had a little soiree to ring in the last season of LOST. I hate that I watch this show. You see for some reason I don't like reading books or watching shows that it seems everyone is watching. I don't know what this is about. It's not a serious disorder, I'll live, but I'm sure it's annoying to those around me. I know these muses are probably great, or why would all these people be reading or watching them? I just don't like it. For instance the Harry Potters seem like wonderfully written, exciting books, but I just couldn't bring myself to pick one up. Maybe in a few years.

I worked with a girl who was like this with music. She liked the most underground undiscovered bands. Her condition seemed worse though because if she came across another individual who happened to have heard of that gem of a band or singer, that poor album was tossed under the bus, undeserving of her love.

So why was I watching and celebrating such a popular show? Because of my husband. He decided to check out the show on Netflix one day. Just to see what the hub bub was about. I was determined to not get sucked in and was reading one of my books (sure to not be found on Oprah's list). I couldn't not watch it. It's a plane wreck, try and not watch that. Then the next episode was coming on and I wasn't going to let it suck me in. Well, 4 DVD's later I was all caught up and waiting like the rest of the world for answers to my many questions.



I can find any excuse to turn an event all about the food, so why not Lost? I so wanted to share my wings I made with you, but they are in need of tweaking. I'll wait until they are just perfect. So with only one day left until the big game I'm going to round up some extremely quick last minutes bites for game day.

I was waiting for the perfect moment to try this fondue dip of sorts. I found it in the Rachel Ray magazine. Peanut-Butterscotch Fondue. Now I know it doesn't scream "man food" or even football, but with a pile of bacon on the side to dip in no one will question why it's on the table. This stuff is good. I did only make half the recipe and that was plenty. It makes a lot. I still have some that I'm going to put on top of cupcakes. Do not miss the bacon! Apples are good in it, but bacon is better.



Don't forget about Pioneer Woman's jalapeno bites. These are quick, minimal ingredients and everyone loves them.



Speaking of the Pioneer Woman, I tried her Restaurant Style Salsa the other day. I will never buy jarred salsa again. I may take this salsa with me to restaurants from now on too. Very easy and very tasty.

If you are looking for some Cajun treats you can never go wrong with First Make a Roux. She knows her stuff! Check out her Superbowl menu!

How about cilantro bacon deviled eggs, Tamari almonds, for the fancy guests - figgy blue cheese puffs, or the one that's always a winner - hummus.

What's on your Superbowl plate? Or are you ditching the game for a movie and some other tasty treats?


p.s. If you are looking for a bandwagon to hop on I have 2 good ones to catch. This book is worth all of the hype. I checked it out from the library and have made 3 regular recipes and 2 gluten free. So far I am hooked. I haven't bought a loaf of bread in weeks. I'm rushing out to buy the book before I turn this one in. Also Kale Chips are for sure worth all that has been said of them. I first saw them on The Kitchn and since have seen them on the likes of Steamy Kitchen and other places. These are so good for snacking and the other night I tried them on lentil stew - better than a crouton!

Miraculous Roots

I really love my little farmer's market. I have not been very faithful in going lately. I've been pouring over frantic food books, but yet resorted to the big chain stores. Life sometimes fools you into thinking you need these.



Last week I made plans with a friend I haven't seen in awhile. She had the ingenious idea of meeting at the market because we both have great intentions of making it a habit, but sometimes fall short. I'm so glad I was able to finally catch up with a friend and market finds.



My favorite booth had orbs of black jewels piled in a basket. Now radishes aren't my favorite thing on the planet, but I'm always optimistic about foods that people swoon over. I hear people speak of fresh radishes as if they were chocolate. This radish was intriguing to me. No chain supermarket ever has these nestled in their abundance.

The farmer selling these beauties gave us so much information. He told us that many health food store concoctions for immune boosting, lists black radish as a number one ingredient. Turns out these black roots are a powerhouse of medicinal properties. This house is in dire need of immune boosting so at his ridiculously cheap rate of 5 cents per radish I was game.

The farmer informed us that the outer part is where it's spice is held. He said he never peels this off. The internet told me that it would be much better to peel it. Sorry internet, friendly farmer won. There is no need to peel away the flavor from these.

I threw together a coleslaw that is nice and spicy from the radish, and cooling with the yogurt. It would be a perfect Superbowl burger accompaniment.



Black Radish Slaw

1 large black radish washed and grated SKIN AND ALL
1/4 red cabbage grated
1/4 regular cabbage grated for a total of about 4-5 cups slaw radish mix
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup plain yogurt
juice of half a lemon
1 1/2 Tablespoons agave nectar (more if you like your slaw on the sweet side)
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon celery salt

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. I like to make this the day before so everything wilts every so slightly and the flavor deepens.



I almost wish these were available at every major market so everyone has the opportunity. Then again it makes my little market and my favorite booth even that much more of a diamond in the desert.

All Roads Lead to the Super Bowl.

All this week I'm going to be posting things that may be of the utmost importance to your Superbowl Sunday. Sure some of the posts may have such predominate tones such as miracle root, or eggs. I assure you that all of these recipes found this week will be functional as part of your Superbowl deliciousness. Anything found this week would go great with a couch and the big game.

We'll start off with eggs. Wonderful ever useful and versatile eggs. Foodbuzz, once again in their awesomeness, sent me a coupon as part of their Tastemaker program for free eggs. Yes the post you are about to read is about a free item given to me to try. I am making a disclaimer here, these eggs were free (thank you again Foodbuzz!).

The coupon was for Eggland's best eggs. I've honestly never tried them before. We have local Hickman's eggs here, which I usually buy figuring that at least it's supporting local and perhaps fresher. If I have the money I buy their cage free. Or if I'm really in the position to splurge I buy them fresh from the farmers market. I will admit that the farmer's market are my favorite and there absolutely is a difference with those in taste and look. However the Eggland's best eggs were very similar to the local Hickman's. I am impressed with the added nutritional boost in the Eggland's. I am a bit of a skeptic and I don't know if it really has that many more benefits over a regular egg. I haven't done that much research either. If anyone out there has please let me know. I'm feeling lazy.

However with my free eggs I was imagining all the original egg favorites of our family. Frittatas, fried eggs and bacon, deviled eggs (of course), even a good custard. But I was leaning to a more basic level. Something minimal, sturdy and useful in so many ways. Mayo. Home style mayonnaise. Then, I popped on over to the Gluten Free Girl and the Chef and knew it was destiny.



They have a great video and post up about making mayonnaise. I make mine pretty much the same, but follow more of what I read in Julia Child's book Kitchen Wisdom. I add one whole egg and 2 yolks and almost 2 cups of oil. More often than not I use olive oil (be warned it does taste very olive oily so use olive oil you adore). Also I'm usually out of Dijon so I use about 1 teaspoon of dried mustard powder. I think I prefer it over the Dijon.



Rest assured this post isn't merely about eggs, and mayonnaise. It's about how to use them. Deliciously and simply. Mayonnaise and eggs are those humble ingredients that can be overlooked. But when you have the best ingredients the simplest of meals are taken beyond normal and become comfortable treasures. Homemade mayo is why other countries eat mayonnaise with their fries.



A bacon sandwich is dream like with homemade mayo and fresh from the oven bread. Another truly simple and soul satisfying dish - potato salad. I think potato salad was invented simply because of homemade mayonnaise.



Homemade Potato Salad

4-5 cups peeled potatoes cut into 1 inch cubes
1 bunch green onions chopped
1 1/2 - 2 cups homemade mayonnaise
salt and pepper
3 Tablespoons sweet relish

Add peeled and cut potatoes to water in a large pot. Bring to a boil and boil for 20 minutes or until tender. Drain off the water and add potatoes back to the pot. Place the pot back on the burner (turned off). Salt the potatoes liberally and let the water evaporate off. After the potatoes have cooled add the rest of the ingredients. Stir gently so the potatoes don't break apart. Add salt and pepper to taste.



Minimal ingredients, timeless foods. Eggs are the superheros of my kitchen.