Crossed The Hippy Line

If there is a hippy line that one can cross, I have crossed it.

In fact, I may have not just crossed it, but leapt over it.

I now dabble in things with names such as SCOBY, and fermenting, and second fermentations.

Yes, I am starting to make my own Kombucha and I'll be posting my events for you to see.

It's safe to say that one has crossed in to the total realm of hippy kitchen you start to brew your own drink.

Snack Attacks

Today is the first day where I feel like it's officially time to get summer rolling.

The holiday is past, the slow pace of summer has already set in, and the kids are CONSTANTLY asking for food.

I'm trying a preemptive approach, but I'm not sure how long I can hold out.

For now, I've got spiced nuts. Simple, slightly sweet, nicely spiced and at the ready.

Friday Random: Starting Now - SUMMER

It's here. I didn't have to wake up to an alarm today.

Finally the time has come when I wake slowly to bustling people.

I've made our "list", one of those infamous summer bucket lists. I like them.
I'm not good at planning lessons, or camps. I'm always the last one to sign up, so making a list of other things is about as planned I seem to manage.

I've amassed a little summer recipe bucket list. 

• Coconut lemon melt-aways - no baking required!
• Crackers - because I need to snack.
• Home made gummy fruit snacks - the kids would love to make em'
• I want to take this to the theater and feel bad for everyone else eating simple popcorn
• I can't stop thinking about this mousse

Here's a fun "hey-yah it's summer" menu:

• Fried Chickpeas
• "Fried" chicken
• Black Radish Slaw
• Chocolate Egg Creams with toasted marshmallows

Summer is meant for ice cream lickin' and We All Scream Ice Cream has stolen my heart.  So many amazing ice cream recipes, all illustrated and colorful.  I will be trying out a few of these! Some I'm going to rework with a little less sugar and dairy, others I'm going to make as is and be happy to do so!

What's on your summer bucket list?

Happy weekend!

Wednesday Raw: A Breakfast That Sticks

There's breakfast that you grab and eat on the go. A breakfast that you can linger over, slowly drinking coffee and chatting about the day.

Then there are breakfasts that you need to stay with you. To keep you running and going because your day is just way too busy.

I used to find it hard to get those power breakfasts on my raw days. I would be really hungry by 10:00 am with lunch hours out of reach.

I finally found the sweet spot of raw with some staying power.

Looking back, it may have been the relatively high sugar content of most of my morning meals causing me to NEED a snack quickly after my day got running.

Sure, the typical protein power breakfast can ramp you up for whatever you have planned, but I still love my raw days. I'm still craving a breakfast without egg or meat.

Oh, and I still love oatmeal. The odd consistency of oatmeal sings something of nourishment and peace to me, but I'm just not a fan anymore of the lack of awesome nutrients in my bowl of mush. So I made up a new  bowl of mush.

A bowl that mimics oatmeal, is (or can be) raw, and loaded with good fuel that really keeps me from needing to nosh all morning long.

 

Habits

I don't think I've racked up a lot of 'bad' habits through my life. Hopefully I've grown out of a lot of them (picking up my dirty clothes, singing with headphones on, chewing gum while talking).

I do turn the hose on the plants and tend to forget about it, for days. That is really bad.  I know, I live in a desert and horde all the water for one bush.

I've started to develop other habits recently to actually enhance life. I've found that prepping a few recipes every week helps things to run smoother, and tastier.

Popsicle Sticks

When I was little the local "In and Out" was one of my favorite places ever. Their array of candy was breathtaking.

But more than anything, even in the cold Colorado winter, I wanted a popsicle. A double stick, gooey, unearthly colored, super sweet popsicle.

The season has already begun where everything has popsicle potential, and after the last week of school, I will be looking for any reason to give out a frozen treat.

The one above is simply avocado, pineapple, a little maple syrup and coconut milk blended together and frozen. It's creamy, slightly sweet, and delightfully tropical. It's a few leagues above "In and Out" popsicles I must say, but still good for the soul.

One more week before we welcome summer. One more week to  dream of new concoctions for popsicle sticks. It's such an exciting time, like picking out a flavor from the frozen case at "In and Out".

Happy weekend!

Friday Random: Cookie Monster

Phew, made it through this week! It was up and down and little people with little spring colds.

I find that stress makes me crave sweets of all kinds.

My favorite sweet to indulge in is cookies. So I did.

Elana posted a recipe for paleo style chocolate chip cookies. These far exceeded any gluten free cookie I have ever made. Not just that, they rivaled my O.G. chocolate chip cookie and that is not easily done. Really, really good recipe and so worth the price of almond flour.

Sadly, those have disappeared and I need more cookies. I have my eye on these because they have ingredients that still make me feel good.

However, I have been eating so well that I may just treat myself to something way forbidden. I've had a pin in this recipe for some time. They make me want to go on a pic-nic by a creek or something like that.

I also may have promised people my husband works with that I'd make these again soon. 'Soon' has turned in to months later. These are the very definition of sweetness, but in a very pleasing way.

Happy mothers day to all the moms out there! May you get lots of macaroni cards and one morning of sleeping in!



I'm going to rest, nosh on cookies and pretend to sleep in while they tinker about my kitchen.

Truly Great Things

Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget. -- G. Randolf


This week I've seen some really great things. Experienced waves of emotions, and realized that I'm completely overwhelmed by my own humility.  And if you so to choose to see things this way,  Gods complete perfection.


I've learned that sometimes you are flooded with blessings when you don't even know it, and that friendships are priceless.


Oh, and really good side dishes are also one of lifes little perfections.

Cinco De Fresca

This year I think I'm going to try a bit harder to get some good Cinco De Mayo celebrating done.

I've spent the week cleaning odds and ends out of drawers, trying to fix my jacked up recipe page, and pretending I'm good at plastering and painting walls.

It's high time I've had a small fiesta!

Or just sit, peacefully in that chair and slowly sip that refreshing drink. That's as crazy as my fiesta gets.

Wednesday Raw: Kids Choice

Ever since we've changed up our diets, unintentionally EVERYONE in this house has been eating more raw.

I didn't expect the kids to ease on in to everything, and I allow them many graces to this plan. I think it's only fair. Why is one thing allowed one day and then off limits the next? I don't want to confuse them, or make them feel 'wrong'.

I've tried to include them in lots of decisions about our meals. We checked out Eat Like a Dinosaur and they are going to each pick out a meal to make. It's a good book for kids, and already the frozen waffle recipe has been worth probably purchasing the book.




Now that a lot of 'not any more' foods are out of the house it's much easier to let them choose what to have. I can open up the fridge and say "pick something" with out thinking they're going to grab all the things I'd rather them not eat.

I'm surprised each day by what they choose on their own.