tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73749420545862588142024-02-07T15:30:47.394-08:00In Mama Bear's HouseKrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-42496935131679186062014-03-04T07:53:00.002-08:002014-03-04T07:53:48.272-08:00Some thoughts on New Nutrition Labels<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mostly, I wish the
money/effort being put into labels on packages was instead directed
toward getting people to eat food that doesn't come in packages.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We do live in the
real world, however, and even my family (one that strives to eat as
much whole foods as we can), buys snacks, bread, condiments, and
other things, in packages. And, I'm glad the labels are there. But,
mostly I read the labels for ingredients. When I buy a snack for my
5-year-old, I don't care about the calories. I care that there's not
a ton of sugar and food coloring. He needs calories, but they need to
be quality calories.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On the other hand,
many people who are not skinny, active 5-year-olds, would benefit
greatly from eating fewer calories. But, is changing the way they are
labeled on packages the answer? I tend to think not. While limiting
the calories consumed is definitely something many people need to be
concerned with, if people are using the information on labels to
count their daily intake, they are able to do the math to figure out
how many calories are in multiple servings -- regardless of the size
of the serving, or the size of the font the calorie count is written
in.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are other
changes on the label, too … Does added sugars vs. sugars that
naturally occur in foods make a difference? I think so, and I like
this addition to the labels. Even if eating the same amount of
naturally occurring sugar has the same impact on your health as
eating added sugar (which I suspect it doesn't), putting the amount
of added sugar in black and white will be an eye opener for many
consumers.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Swapping out
Vitamins A and C to add potassium and magnesium? Ummm … Seems like
a six of one and half-dozen of another scenario. Why don't we just
list the nutrients that are present and leave off the ones that
aren't? That seems like it would give the label the most value. </div>
Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-81544409786964512922014-01-17T08:45:00.003-08:002014-01-17T10:37:49.278-08:00On learning to live in the present with focus<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now that Bear and
Dan are off to work and school, and I've been to yoga, I have my
chance to write a little. My temptation is to scroll through
Facebook, read my messages and email, look up this or that, and make
phone calls for appointments. That is my temptation, just as eating a
big chocolate brownie or bowl of ice cream is my temptation. Instead
I've made myself a smoothie (banana, almond milk, cinnamon, flax
seed, macadamia nuts, … ), and I will write before I clutter my
head with all the junk.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is my theme
right now. My mantra, perhaps. Clear the clutter. Not just the
physical clutter (although that's vital, too), but also the mental
and emotional clutter. And, I need to stay present; focus on the here
and now. I need to make room for the things that are to come. And,
whatever the future holds, it depends on my becoming a more focused
person now.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is much
different from what I would have written earlier this morning. Or,
even on my way home from yoga. I am so tempted to always think about
what I want to do next. “What am I going to do with my life?” I
want to be a teacher, a speech pathologist, a librarian, a
journalist, a farmer, a food writer, … But, how will I ever reach
any goal I set, if I'm completely unable to focus on the present?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I started going to
yoga 10 weeks ago with the intention of keeping my physical self
strong. I wanted to be active, not sedentary during pregnancy. And,
yes, I am accomplishing that goal, but I'm also finding a lot more.
Learning to be in the present moment and live with intention is
perhaps the greater piece. I have a long way to go, just as I have a
long way to go to achieve forearm stand, but it's not all or nothing.
There is benefit in just practicing.</div>
Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-41120265778803131002013-10-16T07:41:00.001-07:002013-10-16T07:41:51.322-07:00On feeling better and being fairFor nearly 4 weeks, I grew more and more tired each day. My nausea came and went, but mostly came. I had no motivation to do anything. All I did was worry and sleep and try to escape feeling sick.<br />
<br />
I had a few OK days in there, but if I pushed to my limit on those days, I was useless on the next.<br />
<br />
I'm wondering now if the tides have finally turned. I'm on day 4 of feeling not too bad. I'd say yesterday I actually felt good. Three days in a row I've made dinner -- a feat I would normally consider a necessity and not an option, but one I have not achieved too many nights over the past month.<br />
<br />
Now is time for organizing, prioritizing, getting things in order, and putting together the life I want to bring a new life into. Which is to say, I'm pulling together the life I want to live anyway.<br />
<br />
And, of course I want to write about it.<br />
<br />
I didn't really write while pregnant with Bear. I tried to write some when he was a baby, but I don't even know where I kept that. I was in such a fog. So, I wonder if writing about this one is being unfair.<br />
<br />
But, it occurs to my that very little is fair between siblings. I could start out trying, but it will never happen.<br />
<br />
One will always have had the undivided attention of having been an only child for nearly six years, while the other will get the benefit of having parents who have already been through each stage. One will always be the first child and the other will always be the youngest. One will always get the love of an older sibling and the other will always have the admiration of a younger sibling looking up to them.<br />
<br />
No matter what, they will both always have all my love.<br />
<br />
And, right now, I feel myself wanting to pour even more love and attention unto Bear knowing that when the baby comes, he or she will need me constantly.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-79487030712030629552013-10-16T07:13:00.001-07:002013-10-16T07:13:26.922-07:00(Almost) 40 and Pregnant<i>This post was written a few weeks ago, but I couldn't publish it because I wasn't yet sharing the news. Now, the announcement has been made and I want to write more. So, here it is ...</i><br />
<br />
Life has been turned on its head.<br />
<br />
Mostly, I'd given up any hope for a second child. Bear was an only child and would reap the benefits of all his parents' attention. Dan and I would enjoy the relative easiness of dealing with just one child - no sibling rivalry; no juggling the needs of two different children; no more diapers.<br />
<br />
I felt a twinge of desire a few weeks ago. I knew Bear wanted a sibling - a brother specifically, but I suspect he'd take one of either gender. And, I wanted another baby. Just one more.<br />
<br />
And, out of that hope came a new life.<br />
<br />
I was clueless at first. I didn't feel well. The symptoms were there. I just didn't pay that much attention. Then, more than a week passed of feeling this way.<br />
<br />
I sat and thought. Suddenly, I had to know.<br />
<br />
Taking the test, I really had no doubt. It was just confirmation. A formality, really.<br />
<br />
That was five days ago. Now, yesterday it started, I can feel my belly tightening. It's not getting bigger, but it's filling up. It's filling with life.<br />
<br />
At first, I was so worried something would be wrong. That feeling in my belly makes things clear. Now, all I can imagine is a healthy baby. The perfect addition to our family. This is how it was meant to be.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-59604555657960956372013-09-03T03:59:00.001-07:002013-09-03T03:59:28.440-07:00Locavore & No Sugar Challenge: Days 1 & 2<b>DAY 1:</b><br />
<br />
I started my day with black coffee and peaches with locally-made yogurt (I have homemade yogurt, but I was gifted some, as well). I thought I was off to a great start, but things kind of crumbled later in the day.<br />
<br />
We went to a gathering at my sister-in-law's. I was happy to see everyone and I was prepared to resist temptation. I cut up a watermelon, which I figured I'd snack on and share. Sadly, it wasn't very tasty. I made peach cobbler to share, but packed myself a plain bowl of peaches. The peaches were so delicious, I thought I'd be happy with them. But, when everyone oohed and ahhh'd about the cobbler, I had to try. And, I packed myself a huge salad, figuring that would help me resist the non-local veggies and meat. But, I was worried I was causing too much of a stink, so I ate packaged sausage and mac and cheese.<br />
<br />
Oh well, there's always tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<b>DAY 2:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The second day was much better. I had five delicious meals and all of them had almost all local ingredients and no processed sugar -- well a touch, but I'll get to that.<br />
<br />
<b>Breakfast:</b> Eggs from KFF scrambled with tomatoes from my garden and a bit of feta. The feta wasn't local, but it was in the fridge and I figured it was better to eat it than toss it.<br />
<br />
<b>Second Breakfast: </b>Oatmeal with peaches and maple syrup. The oatmeal was organic and from the coop. I don't think they were local oats, but I feel good that they were locally source. The peaches were from the bushel I purchased from the corner veggie stand and came originally from Germantown - maybe a bit too far south to technically be called local, but they seem local enough to me and taste out of this world.<br />
<br />
<b>Elevensies: </b>Yogurt with raspberries. The raspberries were from my yard.<br />
<br />
<b>Lunch: </b>A salad of lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers from my garden.<br />
<br />
<b>Dinner: </b>Hamburgers from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GrazinAcresFarm" target="_blank">Grazin' Acres</a> in Argyle; corn from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pleasant-Valley-Farm/242214617771" target="_blank">Pleasant Valley</a> and potato salad made with potatoes, onions and eggs from KFF. The mayo was not homemade, nor were the burger buns -- it's kind of a busy week.<br />
<br />
For dinner, I splurged and let myself have homemade pepper relish on my burger ever though it has sugar in it. I figured the tiny amount of sugar in that spoonful of relish shouldn't stop me from enjoying something I made myself. And, I'm sticking with that rule. But, only for very small amounts of things.<br />
<br />
Now, for another day.<br />
<br />
<br />Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-72152835537862721772013-09-01T05:25:00.001-07:002013-09-01T05:25:16.353-07:00Cutting the sugarFor a long time now, I've been thinking about my need to cut the sugar out of my life. I've become increasingly addicted.<br />
<br />
As much as I love fresh fruits and vegetables, and eating healthy foods, I also have ridiculously powerful cravings for ice cream, brownies, cookies and cake. And, if quality versions aren't available, I'll dive right into the crappiest convenient store varieties and end up feel disgusting afterwards.<br />
<br />
It needs to stop!<br />
<br />
For the month of September, I've decided to cut out all refined sugar. I'm making my own rules here. I know I'll be miserable if I completely deprive myself, so I'm not cutting all forms of sugar. Honey, maple syrup and fruit will be acceptable. But, table sugar, anything baked with sugar, and any packaged products with corn syrup are out.<br />
<br />
This means no sugar in my coffee, no ice cream, no store bought breads and no jam. It also means no chocolate. Don't be surprised if you find me trying to mix cocoa powder with honey to get my chocolate fix without breaking the rules. I might resort to straight up cocoa if things get really bad.<br />
<br />
Besides an attempt to break my sugar addiction, I think this is an appropriate way to kick off Locavore Month. As I've done the past two years, I again signed up for NOFA-NY's <a href="http://www.nofany.org/events/locavore-challenge" target="_blank">Locavore Challenge</a>. During the month of September, it's pretty easy for me to eat a mostly local diet. I wouldn't consider getting any vegetables, fruit or meat that weren't local. Most of my dairy comes from local sources. So, if I'm going to make this a challenge for myself, I needed to up the stakes. Using only local sweeteners seems like the way to go.<br />
<br />
Now, I have double motivation to meet this challenge.<br />
<br />
It's only 8:20 on the first day of the month, but I'm off to a good start. Breakfast was local peaches topped with Argyle Cheese Farmer yogurt. The super juicy peaches satisfied my sweet tooth. The vanilla yogurt was sweetened with honey. And, the black coffee went down just fine.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow morning, I'll let you know how the rest of the day went.<br />
<br />
<br />Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-7441239056447662682013-08-25T05:35:00.003-07:002013-08-25T05:35:58.942-07:00Chicken and Cucumber Crepes with Plum SauceFriday night is usually pizza night in our house. I normally find pizza to be a good way to use up the random vegetables in the refrigerator before I gather more Saturday morning.<br />
<br />
This week, when I went into use-it-or-lose-it mode, pizza was not going to work. There was grilled chicken from the night before. Sure, that could go on pizza. There were quite a lot of cucumbers. OK, we could have a salad with the pizza. There was Chinese plum sauce. Ummm ... Need a different plan.<br />
<br />
I made and canned the plum sauce two summers ago using a recipe from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickles-Relishes-Zucchinis-recipes-preserving/dp/0882667440/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377432539&sr=1-1&keywords=pickles+and+relishes" target="_blank">Pickles & Relishes by Andrea Chesman</a>. You're really not supposed to keep your canned condiments for more than a year. But, I find that most things keep about two years, and I was on the verge of losing that sauce. It was quite tasty, but for some reason, I hadn't found a lot of uses for it. I don't think I tried hard enough.<br />
<br />
I stumbled upon the sauce while searching for some kind of barbecue sauce for my grilled chicken. It worked quite well for the chicken, and that used up one half-pint. With the leftover chicken, I figured I could use another half-pint, and I was considering just putting it on the table for dipping.<br />
<br />
Perhaps there was a more interesting use, I wasn't thinking of. I googled "recipes using Chinese plum sauce." Somewhere in that search -- I think it was on chow.com -- I came across the suggestion to use it with crepes.<br />
<br />
Aha! Things were settled. Sounded good to me and sounded like something the boys would like too.<br />
<br />
To my surprise, my pancake loving boy resisted the crepes, but I really never know what will please him. All three of us enjoyed the chicken and cukes with the plum sauce. Now that I have a use for it, I need to decide whether I should make another batch this year.<br />
<br />
<b>Chicken & Cucumber Crepes with Plum Sauce</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>1 batch of crepes (I used Alton Brown's recipe on <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/crepes-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">foodnetwork.com</a> and swapped gluten free flour for the wheat flour, but use whatever recipe works for you)<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></li>
<li>2 cups shredded chicken</li>
<li>1 cup diced cucumber</li>
<li>1/2 cup Chinese plum sauce</li>
</ul>
<div>
Mix up your crepe batter first. It should chill in the refrigerator for about an hour before cooking. (I neglected to do this and managed to get a few decent crepes, but I'm sure I would have had fewer tears if I'd followed this step.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Shred the chicken and dice the cucumber before you start cooking the crepes. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Cook the crepes according to your recipes instructions.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lay a crepe on a large plate. Layer about a 1/3 cup of chicken and a couple tablespoons of cucumber down the middle of the crepe, then top with a tablespoon or so of sauce. Roll it up. Repeat until all the crepes are used. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Serve with extra sauce for dipping.</div>
Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-23952112032271048292013-08-21T04:48:00.000-07:002013-08-21T04:48:05.417-07:00Camping<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHB0TZstRmUm2Mcof8_aL-Mxg50cEV_SX6f32xTPbe3Df-JtA7-WgENY354zBqFHhZbeORLWd7ytMTEyEoIPYpVHq1CDwwFtxlK9yF_NOol6zmFtJ-4fpRX92Tos55xC6_8YQLbWPZ9hW/s1600/IMG_2400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHB0TZstRmUm2Mcof8_aL-Mxg50cEV_SX6f32xTPbe3Df-JtA7-WgENY354zBqFHhZbeORLWd7ytMTEyEoIPYpVHq1CDwwFtxlK9yF_NOol6zmFtJ-4fpRX92Tos55xC6_8YQLbWPZ9hW/s1600/IMG_2400.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
It's hard to believe I hadn't been camping in six years.<br />
<br />
That means for six years I haven't spent more than half a day disconnected from the Internet. I've been at this point where I'm almost afraid to be away from the World Wide Web. I worry, something is going to happen and I'm going to miss it; it will be too hard to catch up. Yet, as I write this I already feel it's all wrong.<br />
<br />
My fear of being disconnected has waned. In fact, I now want to spend more time away.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH5kPXm557Anx3grTi2RRzG-ATlIYBnwgHb9Ykv0GfIcHlggtqU2WwyMXqMxLiwkA7Hh_69GJoUh-JOPG4zj7NUOcgkFdYt2EIkAmRQT0atjObPZ61xWG95q8G-GeptNG5a3bWfCmjUkI/s1600/IMG_2415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH5kPXm557Anx3grTi2RRzG-ATlIYBnwgHb9Ykv0GfIcHlggtqU2WwyMXqMxLiwkA7Hh_69GJoUh-JOPG4zj7NUOcgkFdYt2EIkAmRQT0atjObPZ61xWG95q8G-GeptNG5a3bWfCmjUkI/s1600/IMG_2415.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Camping meant something different for each of us.<br />
<br />
For the boy, it was his very first time. We asked him what he liked the best, and he didn't have an answer. But, he did like it.<br />
<br />
I'm pretty sure his favorite part of the weekend was the 4-wheeler rides. Not exactly my idea of what camping is about, but I happen to be a bit of a thrill seeker, so I won't complain about the experience. And, the boy was thrilled.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaN362rEGBDr98kvdQMxKsGbN3shL7kYcf1PTal-5Ewyh6aBa_7WeQSpLtW3nlVXNz8NT6AoHNTO9SQ5N_asmiKHAQ-6bqwa3EU2qvsgSRZFH53RsA7i1Gu5tlueXkWBsVOsItgvpBhPh/s1600/IMG_2352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaN362rEGBDr98kvdQMxKsGbN3shL7kYcf1PTal-5Ewyh6aBa_7WeQSpLtW3nlVXNz8NT6AoHNTO9SQ5N_asmiKHAQ-6bqwa3EU2qvsgSRZFH53RsA7i1Gu5tlueXkWBsVOsItgvpBhPh/s1600/IMG_2352.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
He also loved the big mud puddle with the frogs. He almost lost his favorite Phineas & Ferb Crocs trying to catch one of the slippery critters.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoO8VL9zy-liolmuNsfzRf9pRois0l7-7fKJSL_AVSky8AeMhInVu2bqMry1U7cpQ0_dFtsbkLeQh9zFSXb2aLm0xf2gEMNbeaL_MHt0C4Kvr5L5kONFKFI0osRyP80T0zkGdHbWc_N-8/s1600/IMG_2355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoO8VL9zy-liolmuNsfzRf9pRois0l7-7fKJSL_AVSky8AeMhInVu2bqMry1U7cpQ0_dFtsbkLeQh9zFSXb2aLm0xf2gEMNbeaL_MHt0C4Kvr5L5kONFKFI0osRyP80T0zkGdHbWc_N-8/s400/IMG_2355.jpg" width="282" /></a>As I watched the boy, and now reflect on his experience, I am most happy for his time outside. For two days, he was allowed inside only to sleep. He had no TV, no computer, no tablet. He seemed at times like he might be bored and he had to just accept it. Not a bad thing for him to learn. And, he fell asleep in front of the fire.<br />
<br />
Camping was a special time for the dog. Our mutt, who will normally bolt the second she sees freedom, stuck around our camp unleashed without issue. If she wandered too far, she came when we called her back. I loved spending time with her that way. It makes we want to spend more time working with her at home so that we can enjoy her in the same way in our backyard.<br />
<br />
I can't exactly say what camping meant for Papa Bear. He is his own grown up person. I know he, too, enjoys being away. He talked about wanting to join the club where we were invited to stay, so surely it was a weekend he would like to repeat.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUGSPuN6sogpfAo200XPC3XA8NDzF_e7nQOmYcdR6ZJZElpe-9ARXo4LlWur3v93VmI4ZQbhJza8ZOM6YTAP3HuL0uAITGAakttNRetunFePI3bNyDWNJjBTtU4dcictbKs_1SRP0iNgS/s1600/IMG_2371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUGSPuN6sogpfAo200XPC3XA8NDzF_e7nQOmYcdR6ZJZElpe-9ARXo4LlWur3v93VmI4ZQbhJza8ZOM6YTAP3HuL0uAITGAakttNRetunFePI3bNyDWNJjBTtU4dcictbKs_1SRP0iNgS/s1600/IMG_2371.jpg" /></a>Camping for me means PEACE.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTNqaGGtGbSeXMl8X3q2fTjhPASQUtdGptdUUiAes3vUaRobwvjUqMA3Il-GxgC-ddFogZkkVjCpQFF8CxYAJ29bxKtMtabXneBxXseFCfTgT8-1Ww-sMZFylWUL1BW_iknOJeWRqvycW/s1600/IMG_2406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTNqaGGtGbSeXMl8X3q2fTjhPASQUtdGptdUUiAes3vUaRobwvjUqMA3Il-GxgC-ddFogZkkVjCpQFF8CxYAJ29bxKtMtabXneBxXseFCfTgT8-1Ww-sMZFylWUL1BW_iknOJeWRqvycW/s400/IMG_2406.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
The time in the canoe was the best. My boys were in the back uncomfortably shifting and worried they would fall out. No, I didn't like that they were uncomfortable. But, I was in front taking in the quiet sounds of nature. The feeling of drifting on the water, the gentle rocking of the canoe soothes my being even over the griping of the uncomfortable boys. I happily fell into the job of keeping the canoe on course as we drifted along the shoreline. Every now in then I put down the paddle and picked up the camera. I could have spent the entire day -- days even -- drifting in the canoe.<br />
<br />
To be honest, even the 4-wheeler rides were peaceful in a way. Riding through the woods with the wind in my air, watching the scenery and very few other people for miles around. It was a bit of a thrill and felt like freedom.<br />
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And, of course, nights by the campfire will always help to bring me peace.<br />
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Perhaps, tomorrow, I will tell you about one last highlight, Spring Pond Bog.<br />
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For now, it is time for me to bring the peace I found camping into my productive life and get my day going.<br />
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<br />Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-6308516342545410322013-08-20T05:08:00.000-07:002013-08-20T05:08:02.267-07:00Fresh BeginningsI'm setting new goals.<br />
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Fall -- back-to-school season -- has always seemed to me like an exciting time. Even for the many years I wasn't in school, and didn't have a child in school, it has seemed like a good time for fresh beginnings.<br />
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This year, with the boy headed to Kindergarten and with my work life changing, the fresh beginnings vibe is as strong as ever. It might be right there at the same level is was as I headed off to college. Choosing what I will do with my time, is like choosing new classes and then buying books.<br />
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The possibilities seem endless for me. There are so many things I want to do and could do. I need to make some decisions and stick to them. That is goal No. 1: Decide what my goals are.<br />
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I'm working through some and have settled on a few:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">- WRITE MORE!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">- PACK AWESOME LUNCHES</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">- WAKE UP EARLIER</span></h3>
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I realize the write more goal has come up about 50 times before. And, here it is again. It won't always be good writing, but I'll write something every day.<br />
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Packing awesome lunches can be for the whole family. I'm focused on the boy, but there's no reason hubby can't get awesome homemade lunches, too. I want both of them to WANT the lunches I pack over what they can get at school and work.<br />
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So, I'm a little obsessed lately with food blogs that focus on kids. <a href="http://weelicious.com/" target="_blank">Weelicious </a>and <a href="http://www.redroundorgreen.com/" target="_blank">Red, Round and Green</a> are two of my favorites, but I'm finding many others.<br />
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I need to make sure this goal is fun. There's no reason it shouldn't be. I love feeding people, and these are the people I love. As long as I leave myself enough time and have enough fresh ideas, it will continue being fun. I'm sure I will write more about lunches very soon.<br />
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Waking up earlier is just so I can get a jump start on my goals before anyone else gets in my way. If I feel I've been productive before anyone throws me off course, I'll have a good day no matter what else happens.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-73705387749426349622013-07-28T06:22:00.000-07:002013-07-28T06:22:54.987-07:00As This Chapter ClosesLast night, after working at the paper, I drove home thinking about that chapter of my life coming to an end. I have no regrets. I don't regret my stint as copy editor/page designer at two different papers. And, I don't regret the decision to move on.<br />
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I think the most important thing I've gotten from working in news is a broader world view. When my job was producing TV listings, I didn't pay a lot of attention to the news beyond the headlines. I didn't want to get involved in the divisiveness of politics, and I couldn't wrap my head around world issues. I knew a little about local issues through word of mouth and gossip drenched in opinion.<br />
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Working at the paper has forced me to read stories about civil wars in Egypt and Syria, dismal working conditions in Bangladesh, failing economies in Europe and human rights issues in India. Every time I read these stories, I think about how lucky I am to live where I do. Some of them, especially stories such as those about collapsing garment factories, make me think about how my choices affect people so far from me.<br />
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While I feel lucky to live in this country, I worry our government is taking us in the wrong direction. Working in news has forced me to gain a better understanding of how our Legislature works. I'm not sure I could have had an intelligent conversation with my peers about politics before. I still tend to avoid those discussions, because I still despise the divisiveness of it, but now I know the issues.<br />
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I doubt I ever read a story about a sewer system before my job required it. Maybe I never will again. But, if I lived in a municipality with a sewer system, I might. I will definitely continue reading the stories about the issues in my town. I now have a far greater appreciation for local politics, our elected officials and all our public servants. It's hard for me to believe how little I knew about our community before working for the paper.<br />
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That brings me to my appreciation for the news media, especially the local paper. The media has a bad reputation in our society. It's thrashed for being one-sided, hiding the real news, sensationalizing, never reporting good news, reporting too much fluff, and on and on. There's probably truth in all those criticisms, but one fact remains: without the media we would be living in darkness. I probably could have written this whole post on why I value our local newspaper. My goal, though, is to just tell you why I value my time working for it. One big reason is the appreciation I've gained for its existence.<br />
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Now, I move forward. As I do, I will carry this experience with me. I will make an effort to stay up on world, national and local issues, even though my work doesn't require it. I'll do it, because being a citizen of this world requires it.<br />
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<br />Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-48843219995165299422013-07-22T05:29:00.001-07:002013-07-22T05:29:44.750-07:00Five<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwAFM1CRJjrgyM2HMDTtXN8vRyq4QjhMofTh_pVLTG9-Uuka1mSY1wJjGE_fBOzvYRXpyoXvndPjywHenlQKR6gyrjz-6YWhhdn1FbS8MXRkA5drzbnhv6F0vEW5JEA0I_aTYB3fXOVjw/s1600/Bear+with+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwAFM1CRJjrgyM2HMDTtXN8vRyq4QjhMofTh_pVLTG9-Uuka1mSY1wJjGE_fBOzvYRXpyoXvndPjywHenlQKR6gyrjz-6YWhhdn1FbS8MXRkA5drzbnhv6F0vEW5JEA0I_aTYB3fXOVjw/s400/Bear+with+cake.jpg" width="300" /></a>He's already five.<br />
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He's still just five.<br />
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Five years to give him strong legs to run. Five years to give him arms to hug and a heart full of love.<br />
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In five years, he's learned so much, but he's only just begun. His curiosity keeps him asking questions and experimenting with new things every day. His enthusiasm keeps him eager for new adventures. His smile helps him find his way into the heart of nearly everyone he meets.<br />
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Oh, my boy! He turned five nearly a week ago and I watch him with amazement.<br />
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So independent! He figures out how to find his way. He moves chairs to reach when he's not tall enough. He finds the scissors to open his own packages. He's put together Legos, following instructions, without help - although he still prefers working with Mommy or Daddy.<br />
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So curious! He asks me about birds' ears and how our ears work. He tells me about an animal he learned about that walks on water. He watches my plants grow and learns with me about the insects that eat them. He experiments with mixing together anything he can think of. And, my boy, who doesn't like to eat anything unfamiliar, will sometimes "give it a try" because curiosity wins.<br />
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So creative and imaginative! He paints, he glues things together, he builds things without a plan or directions. He tells stories while playing with his toys on his own. He sets up performance and then calls us in to watch.<br />
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Still so little! All his independent curiosity and imagination must take its toll, because there are days he just can't pull himself together. He cries and can't find words. He asks to be carried in from the car, sometimes after just a short outing to the store. And, as trying as whining is, I remind myself, he's still just five.<br />
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At the end of the day, he longs for snuggles. He may have pushed me away a million times one day, but in the end he finds comfort in my hugs and kisses, and I have an infinite amount to give him.<br />
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Oh, how I love being Mom to five!Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-18995940163312410332013-04-08T21:03:00.000-07:002013-04-08T21:05:03.436-07:00Seeds of purpleI didn't order very many new seeds this spring. I ordered a ton last year, then life got away from me and not much got planted. So, this winter, after taking stock of the seeds I had, I decided those 26 varieties were quite enough.<br />
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Then, I read somewhere that kohlrabi is easy to grow, and my family loves it. I decided I really didn't have enough carrot seeds. I couldn't live without cherry tomatoes. Wouldn't the bean tee-pee I want look gorgeous with scarlet runner beans? And, as long as I'm ordering, I wouldn't mind trying a different type of kale.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYM-HgJsfzYtvq43FWyEtE3-8zBLtvyTl0MBaPlBvVuJRuhtg9q-R0UTvKTjte88rIFqOTM2B2PFCfjppvsZPWBHGHOoocWkW5sCB2TirzNDRsxc96ej_jBsrO37wLtq3RRd_N5nPcyWqS/s1600/IMG_2170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYM-HgJsfzYtvq43FWyEtE3-8zBLtvyTl0MBaPlBvVuJRuhtg9q-R0UTvKTjte88rIFqOTM2B2PFCfjppvsZPWBHGHOoocWkW5sCB2TirzNDRsxc96ej_jBsrO37wLtq3RRd_N5nPcyWqS/s640/IMG_2170.JPG" width="640" /></a>I'm not sure exactly what led me to <a href="http://www.seedlibrary.org/" target="_blank">Hudson Valley Seed Library</a>, but there's a few things I like about it. First, they are the most local source I know of to buy seeds. Secondly, since I'm a visual person, I love the art on their seed packs. And, most usefully, I've been finding a lot of helpful tips on their <a href="http://www.seedlibrary.org/blog/" target="_blank">blog</a>. So, that's where I decided to order this year's seeds. It didn't really matter to me that they only have 60 varieties of seeds compared to the hundreds other seed supplier have. I only needed five.<br />
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So, a few weeks ago, when I decided I couldn't live without five more types of seeds, I clicked them into my shopping cart. While doing so, I picked up on the library's membership. Not only would the membership save me a bit on my order, but it would also get me in on their community seed saving project. Yes!<br />
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As if a project to teach me about seed saving isn't cool enough, the community seed is the Purple Podded Pea. Did someone just say I could have PURPLE and PEAS in my garden on the SAME plant? Let's just say, I couldn't sign up fast enough.<br />
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Today, my seeds came. I can't wait to put them in some dirt! If my garden turns out half as beautiful and bountiful as I'm dreaming ... wait, dream garden is the next post ...PruKrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-45201337139613567782013-04-07T04:47:00.001-07:002013-04-07T04:47:48.764-07:00{Recipe} From a dream: Potato, Corn and Sausage ChowderSometimes while I lie in bed drifting off to sleep, I think about meals I might make the next day, or later in the week. I think about what ingredients I have on hand, and what I might need to buy. Frequently, this just leads to frustration, and may even keep me awake worrying.<br />
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On a good night, though, I come up with a great creation. Admittedly, my standards for "great creation" are pretty low. But, if I can come up with something that doesn't require a trip to the store and all three of us are willing to go for seconds, I think that's pretty great. That's what happened the other night.</div>
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I was thinking of the beefalo sausage I picked up at the farmers market last Saturday. I kind of wanted a soup, so I thought about what veggies I had and remembered the large amount of corn I froze in September. (Blanching corn, cutting the kernels from the cob and freezing the results has become a harvest-time ritual for me.) I also had a quart of corn cob stock left, and some Russet potatoes from KFF. </div>
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OK, it was starting to come together. I just had to start with some sauteed onions, and decide on seasoning. By the time I needed to start dinner the next evening, I had a whole recipe in my head -- only there were still additions as I cooked. Here's the results:<br />
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<b>Potato, corn and sausage chowder</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>2 tablespoons olive oil</li>
<li>2 medium onions, roughly chopped</li>
<li>1 to 1 1/2 pounds beefalo sausage (or whatever sausage suits you), either use bulk or cut links into 1/2-inch pieces</li>
<li>4 small to medium potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes</li>
<li>1 to 2 sweet red peppers (I pulled these from the freezer)</li>
<li>salt and black pepper to taste</li>
<li>1 teaspoon dried thyme</li>
<li>1/8 teaspoon chipotle chile pepper</li>
<li>4 cups corn stock (I'm sure vegetable stock would work fine)</li>
<li>1 cup whole milk</li>
<li>4 ounces cream cheese</li>
<li>8 ounces cheddar cheese, cubed or shredded</li>
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Brown the sausage, stirring occasionally, in a large skillet. Remove from heat and set aside.</div>
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While the sausage is cooking, heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add onions and saute until translucent, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add potatoes, peppers and seasoning and stir it all together. Add corn stock. Bring to a simmer, cover and let cook about 15 minutes until potatoes are just getting tender. </div>
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Add cooked sausage and milk, and adjust seasoning. Cook until the soup returns to a simmer. Stir in cheeses until melted and everything is heated through. </div>
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Ladle into bowl and let cool slightly before serving to children.</div>
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Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-14901833697622440332013-03-31T04:04:00.001-07:002013-03-31T04:15:46.084-07:00{Grow Write Guild} My gardening roots<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwJ3YrnhLucoIGQnt_BqfsZftk7FFG3PnqnoUV8qN5i0Tno3RS9lqkbczBI2xB-r_hdinexA3mQPRBI0pb9fruZOFzixtfDEHDGGpbMAOS6dHgmP733HLCgp-I9VXUoXpmzSW2lQslH9H/s1600/grow+write+badge.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwJ3YrnhLucoIGQnt_BqfsZftk7FFG3PnqnoUV8qN5i0Tno3RS9lqkbczBI2xB-r_hdinexA3mQPRBI0pb9fruZOFzixtfDEHDGGpbMAOS6dHgmP733HLCgp-I9VXUoXpmzSW2lQslH9H/s1600/grow+write+badge.png" /></a>Note: <i>This is the first in a writing prompt series call <a href="http://www.yougrowgirl.com/grow-write-guild/" target="_blank">Grow Write Guild</a> I've decided to write along with. The prompts come from Gayla Trail at <a href="http://www.yougrowgirl.com/" target="_blank">You Grow Girl</a>, one of the gardening bloggers I enjoy following. The first prompt is "<a href="http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2013/03/19/grow-write-guild-1-my-first-plant/" target="_blank">write about your first plant</a>." My story is quite loosely based on Gayla's questions, but I'm taking the word "prompt" literally. I will be using her suggestions as a means to get writing with little attention to whether my direction has anything to do with what Gayla had in mind. I'm looking forward to this writing journey through the gardening season and would be honored to have you join me.</i><br />
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I grew up with gardeners. When I was a baby, Mom would put me down for a nap in my crib and go work in the garden at the bottom of our backyard hill. Once I was old enough, I was down there in the garden along side her.<br />
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When I recall specific memories of that garden, they aren't particularly fond. To be honest, none of my childhood vegetable gardens conjure specifically good memories, but I am nonetheless thankful for them. And, if I don't try to zero in on any particular moment in time, the thought of my childhood gardens bring an overall warm feeling of happiness.<br />
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Our neighborhood was built in an old apple orchard, and our backyard had several too-old-for-good-fruit apple trees. It seems the steep hill from the house to the garden was always littered with half-rotten apples regardless of the time of year. Incidentally, the swing set was at the bottom of the hill, too, so it wasn't as if I could avoid that walk even if I didn't want to garden. The trees may have shaded the hill, but at the bottom it was hot and sunny -- perfect for growing zucchini the size of a small child. Next to the garden was a raspberry patch. I loved raspberries, but bees and prickers made the berries nearly undesirable.<br />
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My grandparents, who we visited frequently, had an even larger garden. Grandma tried to get me to eat the Brussels sprouts she grew, but, thankfully, no one forced me, because Mom didn't like them, either. Grandma, grew beets, too. I didn't even realize Mom didn't like beets until I was an adult. I guess, when you're a kid you just gobble up the food that's yummy and don't take much notice of what others eat.<br />
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Later, my grandparents moved from Rockland County to their "camp" in the Adirondacks, and I think the garden got even bigger. In the new garden they grew potatoes, which have given me my absolute least favorite gardening memory -- picking potato beetles. To this day, I despise beetles of all kinds, and I'm not sure I'll ever have it in me to grow potatoes. I hated picking those potato beetles, but I managed, as a preteen, to do it with pride. There we were, three generations of gardeners, walking along the rows throwing those nasty creatures into coffee cans of turpentine, so we could eat the most delicious potatoes I've ever tasted.<br />
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So, why, if my earliest memories of gardening coincide with memories of rotten apples and potatoes beetles, would I want to garden as an adult? The answer is very simple: we had fresh veggies on our table all summer long. Unlike many of my peers, I love vegetables of all kinds (Brussels sprouts remain my one exception). If you need a second reason, I got to play in the dirt a lot, and I love the smell of dirt. Perhaps most importantly, that overall warm feeling of happiness is something I long to pass on to my son.<br />
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<br />Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-23748456891029607802013-03-28T06:51:00.001-07:002013-03-28T06:51:51.447-07:00The Lunch BoxNow that Bear eats lunch away from home three days each week, I've been putting more effort into packing lunches that a) I think are interesting and nutritious and b) I'm guessing he'll eat.<br />
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The first part of this is to <i>not </i>ask him what he wants. At 9:30 or 10 in the morning, he really isn't hungry for anything -- he just ate breakfast. So, at 4, it's hard for him to imagine what he might like to eat two hours into the future. </div>
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Instead, I just pick three or four things I think might appeal to him. I just have to realize that when he brings half of it home, it's OK. (At least it's OK as long as I remember to unpack it and don't end up with cheese or eggs that have been neglected when I pack the next days lunch.) Some of his lunch items this week have been a carrot and daikon radish mix, yellow and red peppers, hummus, cucumbers, cheese cubes, and salad.</div>
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I've also decided that I'm going to occasionally sneak some things in that he's never tried before. Maybe at school, he'll give them a try. I won't go overboard, but it's worth a try. Earlier this week he got some whole grain chips and he said he loved them. Today he's getting freeze-dried raspberries. I'm not very hopefully about those, but since they're packaged in an Easter egg, maybe ...<br />
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Oh, yes, the Easter eggs! Thanks to <a href="http://weelicious.com/2013/03/25/easter-egg-lunch-box/" target="_blank">this post</a> on weelicious.com, I decided to pack today's lunch, the last before Easter, in plastic eggs. I know, I know, the plastic can't be good. But, considering, I generally stay away from plastic for packing lunches, I figure one day isn't going to hurt.<br />
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Here's what his lunch box looks like:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyssVI8dYrLuk48FFhbTGc0km9mvhugKJeMW8JzjdWGM8QpMYweccIEP-_NIcDI4aPil6M4LP0PzGG2mKsZyo-dVx2IQJpePcyQ9AMjC405zdGqmpiNPc8Wf-_NYD9AXOpzUAny1H3IaW9/s1600/IMG_2083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyssVI8dYrLuk48FFhbTGc0km9mvhugKJeMW8JzjdWGM8QpMYweccIEP-_NIcDI4aPil6M4LP0PzGG2mKsZyo-dVx2IQJpePcyQ9AMjC405zdGqmpiNPc8Wf-_NYD9AXOpzUAny1H3IaW9/s400/IMG_2083.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I can't wait for him to see it. I wish I could include a mini-camera so I could spy on him. </div>
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Inside the purple egg is shredded chicken, one of his favorite foods. The other eggs have red pepper, carrots and bunny grahams as a treat. Oh, and the dried raspberries. Enjoy, buddy!</div>
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Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-35763673271495539402013-03-13T18:07:00.000-07:002013-03-13T18:10:47.753-07:00Random updates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIozQ8dh1ncn99lEBz7J9jDZDdcKbn1ixKs9Gtzh3VNmoecoSHkA148fmS0XUF26eqZRGVoacTH7Stc-wozf9MWYVCPMUI4hnJeem_vJ7moW7_D1JvQ_4uB37j8l6s5e5u6_oZvVga0qN7/s1600/k+roundup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIozQ8dh1ncn99lEBz7J9jDZDdcKbn1ixKs9Gtzh3VNmoecoSHkA148fmS0XUF26eqZRGVoacTH7Stc-wozf9MWYVCPMUI4hnJeem_vJ7moW7_D1JvQ_4uB37j8l6s5e5u6_oZvVga0qN7/s200/k+roundup.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Received in the mail today: </b>The first, but certainly not the last, correspondence addressed to "Parent(s)/Guardian(s) of Bear Nusskern" from Queensbury Elementary School. It was our appointment for Kindergarten Roundup. Another reminder to have all sorts of fun with my boy before he gets swept into the wave of school.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lFl3ELfMS4AQECigWyYEJ16QCmEqWaVka057PSVEOaCVVYZDg1poZChAgzVBGHVnHVsnqBbK4wFEmj0f0RDsCnci6UN0u7ZqcWNPrKI2ZC_PoOC-UwXpYzATw-_xtKJPZ1uOQfRUzWcx/s1600/bubbles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lFl3ELfMS4AQECigWyYEJ16QCmEqWaVka057PSVEOaCVVYZDg1poZChAgzVBGHVnHVsnqBbK4wFEmj0f0RDsCnci6UN0u7ZqcWNPrKI2ZC_PoOC-UwXpYzATw-_xtKJPZ1uOQfRUzWcx/s200/bubbles.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lFl3ELfMS4AQECigWyYEJ16QCmEqWaVka057PSVEOaCVVYZDg1poZChAgzVBGHVnHVsnqBbK4wFEmj0f0RDsCnci6UN0u7ZqcWNPrKI2ZC_PoOC-UwXpYzATw-_xtKJPZ1uOQfRUzWcx/s1600/bubbles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>In the category of difficult challenges: </b>Getting outside every day is not so easy. But, with the exception of Tuesday, when it was pouring, we've done it every day this week. Some of those we weren't out for long. But, 20 to 30 minutes is better than not at all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Tiny things to celebrate:</b> My first seedlings have seen light. I planted these leek seeds at least three weeks ago. The seeds were two years old, so I was very unsure of how well they'd do. Then, I had a bit of trouble figure out how much water I needed<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqjCr2i9CYjf-15IwgPypRZ1DdkPJVIeSFJrtjDPD3Twnpfp0IIWdfh6kAjVUlJbA1I_Lkf_52tLUSDbbOJP2NcUfLx-R28CReiNI1E8s86AN4Mx54C3wJHKSvlb5fsa1RUpQ2tST6YeC/s1600/leek+seedlings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqjCr2i9CYjf-15IwgPypRZ1DdkPJVIeSFJrtjDPD3Twnpfp0IIWdfh6kAjVUlJbA1I_Lkf_52tLUSDbbOJP2NcUfLx-R28CReiNI1E8s86AN4Mx54C3wJHKSvlb5fsa1RUpQ2tST6YeC/s320/leek+seedlings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
in the bottom tray and everything dried out. Finally, I got enough water in there and, three days later there were the first bits of green. Now, out of about 100 seeds, I have a bit more than 20 tiny plants. It would be nothing short of a miracle if they were all to mature to full-sized leeks. We have months ahead to find out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Lastly, in the battle with Daylight Savings Time, I win! </b>Not only is Bear not going to bed <i>later, </i>but he's actually started to go to bed at a reasonable (before 9 p.m.) time. It's probably the fresh air. Maybe a little bit of it's my determination. Whatever it is, it's adding to my positive outlook.<br />
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<br />
<br />Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-31398375821543031212013-03-10T07:00:00.001-07:002013-03-10T07:00:48.730-07:00Climbing out of the winter slumpI'm not sure exactly when this slump started, but I've been eating horribly lately. I'm so conscience of what the boy is eating, but I've been chowing down on bowls of ice cream for lunch when I think no one is watching. And, I'm constantly refilling my coffee cup to the point the caffeine no longer keeps me from falling asleep. Although, I know it's preventing me from getting the best sleep possible.<br />
<br />
Forget about exercise. I started the winter thinking we would cross country ski and sled and build snowmen. But, when the little bit of snow we had came, I just hunkered down inside. Not only am I suffering from this, but so is the boy. He needs outdoor time and exercise more than anyone, and it's up to me to make sure he gets it.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, we went for a family walk. It was that first beautiful March day. The kind of day when just because it is warmer than 40 and the sun is shining, people in the north country think shorts and tank tops are appropriate attire. We went to Hudson Pointe along with river in Queensbury.<br />
<br />
It's not a long walk, and it felt great to be out. Hubby and I both felt great to be walking. Along with the dog, our legs were itchy to move briskly. Sadly, our out-of-exercise little boy was dragging his feet and asking to be carried. This is not the boy I know from the summer and fall. It may partly have to do with wearing snow boats instead of comfortable sneakers, but still ... I've got to get this boy moving.<br />
<br />
I've got to get this mama moving. And, the papa -- he wants to move more too.<br />
<br />
And, I've got to cut the junk food.<br />
<br />
It starts today!!!<br />
<br />
Bear and I will be getting outdoor exercise time EVERY day. Dan will join us when he can. Starting today, daily exercise for Bear and me will get the same priority status as getting dressed. I don't have an exact plan for the eating, but there won't be anymore ice cream for lunch and a much bigger focus on healthy snacks.<br />
<br />
Here we go ...Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-61230409746216132182013-02-27T06:09:00.001-08:002013-02-27T06:09:46.747-08:00An Unfair Fight or Tears in the Snack Aisle<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Every parent of a child old enough to
speak has been there. In the grocery store, they've turned down the
wrong aisle and instantly their child spots a beloved cartoon
character. The child gleefully points to their TV pal on the box
filled with sugar and artificial colors.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If it's early in the day, mom (or dad)
has had a good night's sleep, is amply caffeinated, <i>and
</i>understands how unhealthy the
contents of the box are, she might escape the store without
caving to the child's request. But, that's not without a huge scene,
kicking and screaming, and the intended grocery shopping likely
incomplete, if not altogether abandoned. And, this is the best that
might happen.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The story might end differently for the
mom who is shopping after working all day, or (as I've experienced)
the morning after working beyond midnight and still waking before 7
a.m. Despite our shopping needs, we want to enjoy a little time with
our children. We want smiles, hugs and happy children. We don't have
the energy for a fight. So even those of us who know better may turn
a blind eye to the health risks, toss the sugar and artificial
coloring in our cart, and accept our hugs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's really not a fair fight. The food
industry knows how this scene will play out. They know that after mom
and dad lose this battle over and over, the child will grow up
addicted to sugary easy-to-eat food in brightly colored packages.
Then, the adult will be easily swayed by advertising for grown up
junk food.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The fight might not be fair, but it's
not futile. I walked down said “wrong aisle” last week. Our list
was less than a dozen items long, but one of them – coffee, I think
– shares an aisle with the fake fruit snacks. Down on the bottom
shelf my son spotted his favorite turquoise platypus and I got the
request. I gave him a look followed by, “Do you think I'm going to
say 'yes?' ” to which he quietly responded, “Oh, man!” and on
we went.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was a small victory. He still asked,
but he knew no amount of arguing would win his case. We've been the
object of many turning heads before. We've done the kicking and
screaming. We've abandoned a couple shopping trips. And, yes, I've
even caved a few times. But, over the past four years, I've said no –
even through my haze of too little sleep and too much caffeine –
enough times, he knows the answer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Stay strong, parents! Big food is not
going to give up targeting our children, but they don't have to
strike. We can be the shields that keep our kids from heading down
the path of obesity and diabetes. Shop the farmers market as much as
you can, but when you have to head down that grocery store aisle,
stay strong. Remember, when your child's pleading starts, and the
heads turn, all those bystanders are your cheerleaders; most of them
have been in your shoes.</div>
Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-52843490537977107182013-02-27T06:01:00.001-08:002013-02-27T06:01:58.132-08:00Beginning againAfter a long time away, I've decided to start posting here again. It's not that I all of a sudden have extra time on my hands. It's that I have things on my mind and moments of life I want to remember.<br />
<br />
I've been writing a recipe column for the farm, which appears on the <a href="http://www.kilpatrickfamilyfarm.com/blog/" target="_blank">KFF blog</a> and on the <a href="http://saratogawire.com/article/856/130223-from-the-farm-cole-crops/" target="_blank">Saratoga Wire</a>. I love writing it, but it doesn't cover nearly all the things that I want to say.<br />
<br />
I want to write about food issues, and possibly other social issues, not related to the farm. I have recipes to share that don't necessarily highlight veggies. I want to record what's to come in my garden and other projects around the house. And, most of all, I want a place to hold the memories of raising the most wonderful boy on the planet. How did I get so lucky?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsRmF8sSXu5OPYERQHZBuMZeTl0JUqkSU-4VYQegxKhvzURoBe1HZs-lx8L31wlxq3nukn8W6ikuEcylTw2C2N2dx4W5hZm1ipZaS6A-SDSd0Az4EyjEWNZWNcw_pU2Vw_nI5Q7XKg0-d/s1600/IMG_1926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsRmF8sSXu5OPYERQHZBuMZeTl0JUqkSU-4VYQegxKhvzURoBe1HZs-lx8L31wlxq3nukn8W6ikuEcylTw2C2N2dx4W5hZm1ipZaS6A-SDSd0Az4EyjEWNZWNcw_pU2Vw_nI5Q7XKg0-d/s320/IMG_1926.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyeLMDhHxLpFwgz7SYCrlwDOEwc_aMjuKqj3qJehPcB6pAJ_X7KmvtQG9jI5EGLNnaJwn4lEDsoH8TCiFrcjPwzf9r8boBSsF6vBNYQ16iNPr50beOwYFSETCG9IujAyUbjJXZgmnmhr7/s1600/IMG_1934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyeLMDhHxLpFwgz7SYCrlwDOEwc_aMjuKqj3qJehPcB6pAJ_X7KmvtQG9jI5EGLNnaJwn4lEDsoH8TCiFrcjPwzf9r8boBSsF6vBNYQ16iNPr50beOwYFSETCG9IujAyUbjJXZgmnmhr7/s640/IMG_1934.JPG" width="640" /></a>Chances are there won't be any consistency here, but I'm going to shoot for one post per week -- even if it's just a single photograph. I'd like to think each week of my life has at least one little thing worth remembering. Here are just a couple February examples.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
To the left, my boy is celebrating Blue Bear's birthday. It was a snow day and he spread out a tablecloth, and passed out plates, cups and straws to all his stuffed animal friends. We even hung a banner.<br />
<br />
Below, he's making Valentines for his classmates.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-3892071889925995202012-08-21T13:15:00.000-07:002012-08-21T13:15:56.458-07:00Collecting the fruits of summerI confess, I'm a fruit hoarder.
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
All summer long, my mind is constantly
thinking about how I can get more fruit to stock my freezer and fill
my canning jars. If you live in the Northeast and you depend on what
grows locally, you have to think about winter during the summer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thinking ahead applies to vegetables,
too, but the sweetness of fruit makes its gathering and preserving
much more exciting to me. Tasting summer's berries in January, is not
quite like feeling the sun that was shining the day they were picked,
but in the dead of winter, it might be all I've got.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Raspberries are especially adventurous
and precious.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
They come later in the season, and by
that time, no matter how many pints of strawberries and blueberries I
have stored, I'm still certain I need more berries. Raspberries are
my final hope.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thankfully, I had the opportunity to
pick from the farm's berry patch this week.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I'm also thankful that the awesome crew
maintains the plants in neat rows. But, no matter how well maintained
the shrubs are, these berries aren't much fun to pick. You've
probably encountered raspberry brambles at some point in your life --
they are full of “prickers.”
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The bees don't mind the “prickers”
at all as they busily pollinate. They are joined by beetles, flies
and other bugs of all sizes and types. My four-year-old helper calls
the bugs his friends, but I'm not a huge fan.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Determined to fill my baskets, I put
the scratchy brambles and insects out of my mind and pick. It takes
time to pick raspberries. Some of the ripest berries fall apart in my
fingers, and occasionally drop where they'll never be found. But, I
persevere, and after two hours, I have three quarts of berries.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Three quarts of amazingly, delicious
raspberries! I will have jam, vinaigrette and smoothies! Every ounce
of effort was worth it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And, despite my hoarding tendencies, I
might even give raspberry goodies for gifts, and share a taste of
summer in the midst of winter.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Raspberry Vinegar</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you want to make raspberry
vinaigrette, you first need raspberry vinegar.
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 cups crushed raspberries</div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 cups white wine vinegar</div>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
¼ cup sugar</div>
</li>
</li>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Place the berries in a one-quart mason
jar, then fill the jar with the vinegar. Let sit for two days to two
weeks.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Drain the fruit through muslin or
cheesecloth, and let sit for a while – a couple of hours if you
have the time. Pour the liquid into a non-reactive sauce pan, and
stir in the sugar. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and let
simmer for about 10 minutes. Skim off any foam. Pour into sterilized
bottles and store in a cool dark place. Will store for up to a year.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Serving suggestions:</b> Mix the
vinegar with olive oil and black pepper to make a vinaigrette, pour
it over ice cream, or pour it over ice and add seltzer.</div>
Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-64555145697812593892012-05-27T06:17:00.001-07:002012-05-27T06:19:07.029-07:00Grilled pac choiYesterday, as I will be many Saturdays this summer, I worked with Kilpatrick Family Farm at the farmers market. It might be the best job I've ever had - selling the most awesome veggies in the world to food-loving marketgoers.<br />
<br />
Throughout the morning, CSA coordinator Christina, shared her excitement for grilled pac choi. I was already a pac choi/boc choi fan, but hadn't thought of grilling it. Toss it with any dressing, she said, throw it on the grill, then back in the dish with the dressing.<br />
<br />
"It will change your life," Chris said.<br />
<br />
We had a steak to grill for dinner last night, and a grilled veggie seemed like the perfect accompaniment. Of course, the pac choi I brought home was to be it. But, I didn't have any dressing made, so I looked for inspiration through a quick Google search for "grilled boc choi." (searched boc choi instead of pac choi figuring it was more common, but would be cooked the same way). Based on what I found, this is what I made:<br />
<br />
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce<br />
1 tablespoons rice wine vinegar<br />
2 tsp sesame seed oil<br />
1 tablespoon grated ginger<br />
<br />
All these measurements are approximate, as I didn't measure, or plan on blogging about it, when I made it. If I did it again, I might also add honey.<br />
<br />
I whisked those things together, broke off the leaves of the pac choi, then tossed the leaves with the dressing. <br />
<br />
I wasn't too sure how long to grill the leaves, but I figured it out as I stood at the grill. Basically, I couldn't get all the leaves laid out on the grill before it was time to flip the first ones. It ended up being about 30 to 45 seconds on each side. But, as I went, I gave up on laying them out too neatly and just threw them on in bunches.<br />
<br />
As Chris instructed, I tossed them with the dressing again once the leaves were grilled. Then, I sprinkled some sesame seeds on top in the dish before serving.<br />
<br />
Definitely a hit!Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-35144437928807211552012-04-22T08:45:00.001-07:002012-04-22T09:42:19.572-07:00Food swap: Some yogurt for your jam? Please<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtIos1E-xmLMj62aDnuVdB3IJX3FxVRF9xSEHAiAbOQv2ulPOFvO-XsyUHcZe-xia7jCQgHXPoZ_bP6rPSQNSml30WwMzg5OMccsGU8Dvj4f4_fNLpBO79M1dh2ySByEgqpa_e7OhjA4K/s1600/swap+items.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtIos1E-xmLMj62aDnuVdB3IJX3FxVRF9xSEHAiAbOQv2ulPOFvO-XsyUHcZe-xia7jCQgHXPoZ_bP6rPSQNSml30WwMzg5OMccsGU8Dvj4f4_fNLpBO79M1dh2ySByEgqpa_e7OhjA4K/s640/swap+items.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Wednesday, I went to my third food swap. I'm not sure why I haven't written about the swaps before. Each one has been great.<br />
<br />
If you've never been to a food swap, it's really worth checking out. <a href="http://fromscratchclub.com/" target="_blank">From Scratch Club</a> hosts two swaps each month. I've been
going to the one in Saratoga Springs. They also hold one in Troy, and
will be starting a Schenectady location.<br />
<br />
In a nutshell, you bring your homemade goods and leave with something else homemade. So, if you are an awesome baker, but can't imagine making yogurt or canning jam, bring your cookies and trade for yogurt or jam. Or, maybe some soup. Or, maybe even a homemade body care product.<br />
<br />
For this past swap, I brought one bottle of <a href="http://www.thedinnerfiles.com/2010/11/09/coffee-vanilla-bean-liqueur/" target="_blank">coffee-vanilla liqueur</a>, three jars of <a href="http://inmamabearshouse.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html" target="_blank">green tomato relish</a> and a jar of yogurt (my process to come in a future post).<br />
<br />
I left with a loaf of cranberry-nut bread, which was quickly devoured by hubby and me before bed; a jar of raspberries in light syrup (enjoyed on yogurt with granola - yes!); a jar of sungold tomato jam (with a perfect amount of spiciness - that jar's not lasting long), a jar of healing salve and a body scrub.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNI-0ZEsR1apGBnwig98eoCjvlhb0nhWjKG0QSCvQmjapChmd25iOMGNZV7km9J0oeQd-rSV85Y1QRzxvKiG90tOySqZO11T4kbVJUFc7uzE0i1_TCwfAmQXWDpsr2yQ9A79tLcIe2FgCi/s1600/swap+scrub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNI-0ZEsR1apGBnwig98eoCjvlhb0nhWjKG0QSCvQmjapChmd25iOMGNZV7km9J0oeQd-rSV85Y1QRzxvKiG90tOySqZO11T4kbVJUFc7uzE0i1_TCwfAmQXWDpsr2yQ9A79tLcIe2FgCi/s400/swap+scrub.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mamatoga's coconut oil and turbinado sugar scrub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2b25OyjjfxS8ub9r14t6hE8wAQficRnYgfEXHrGe179V0CBtPOxXyHr6HecxwFLSiBJV_XpeCz0Gr8cAyqmP_QVMJS5sbFc-9nGDpjfjyQXL2J73y8oPUwooqpkjZk1i-jDLzFduOtSt0/s1600/swap+jam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2b25OyjjfxS8ub9r14t6hE8wAQficRnYgfEXHrGe179V0CBtPOxXyHr6HecxwFLSiBJV_XpeCz0Gr8cAyqmP_QVMJS5sbFc-9nGDpjfjyQXL2J73y8oPUwooqpkjZk1i-jDLzFduOtSt0/s400/swap+jam.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sungold tomato jam from Erika or ourdiylife.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After past swaps, I've come home with paneer, home-brewed beer, bread, fudge, jam, and several other things. Not one thing has been a disappointment.<br />
<br />
So, seriously, check it out. When you come, keep in mind I'm a sucker for healthy muffins and breads, so bring some for me next time, would ya? <br />
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To learn more about how the food swap works, check out <a href="http://fromscratchclub.com/" target="_blank">From Scratch Club's</a> page about <a href="http://fromscratchclub.com/fsc-food-swaps/" target="_blank">Food Swaps</a>.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-34245659784325338382012-04-14T17:52:00.000-07:002012-04-14T17:52:23.190-07:00Coriander? (and a recipe for Quinoa Pine Nut Pilaf)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjEPPj4r0f9n8B5prGrWOR5_7eSuO2ZKI7DhxpSpE0l92f-ShuC_-Q7i33I9Uh0kz9Ssy8KLQVIydzgFB_QUWAVhF4emQW2VNH3TdrGK3h8IEvcLqk8Nks3jblWIQGcSbP8bAPWvFaPuO/s1600/eIMG_0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjEPPj4r0f9n8B5prGrWOR5_7eSuO2ZKI7DhxpSpE0l92f-ShuC_-Q7i33I9Uh0kz9Ssy8KLQVIydzgFB_QUWAVhF4emQW2VNH3TdrGK3h8IEvcLqk8Nks3jblWIQGcSbP8bAPWvFaPuO/s640/eIMG_0628.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last summer, I let me cilantro go to seed. (unintentionally, of course)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Trying to make the best of the situation, I decided to let the seeds dry out on the back porch. Only, they hung there, neglected, from summer into fall, and then all winter long. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Spring came and I finally decided to pluck the seeds from the dried plant. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About two weeks later, those seeds, are still waiting in that tiny clay pot. Waiting to be crushed up and become part of something -- quinoa pilaf perhaps, or maybe a chickpea and spinach dish. The seeds are barely enough to season one dish -- if any at all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Honestly, I'm a little afraid. What do you think, will they taste good, like I would expect coriander to taste? Or, will they ruin the meal?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Either way, this recipe for the pilaf is worth sharing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><u>Quinoa Pine Nut Pilaf</u></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>from Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 large onion, chopped</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3 garlic cloves, minced</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 tablespoon canola oil</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 bell pepper</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 teaspoons ground cumin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 teaspoons ground coriander - <em>if you have seeds, work those muscles with your mortar and pestle, or if you're a whimp (you don't have to tell anyone) use a coffee grinder reserved for spices </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 cup qunioa, rinsed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 2/3 cup water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1/2 cup chopped, fresh basil (or some dried, if it's the wrong season)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">salt and pepper to taste</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 1/2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In a saucepan, saute the onions and garlic in oil for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add the bell peppers, cumin and coriander, and continue sauteing for 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the rinsed quinoa and the water to the saucepan, cover tightly, and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Stir in the basil and corn, and cook 5 to 10 minutes longer, or until the quinoa is tender. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stir the pilaf to fluff it, add salt and perpper to taste, and serve topped with the toasted pine nuts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*For a vegetarian meal, serve with roasted vegetables. Or, since we're omnivores in our house, we have enjoyed the pilaf with a roasted chicken. </div>Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-19317619289561133732012-04-14T16:07:00.001-07:002012-04-15T04:56:37.380-07:00This week ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... we fingerpainted with friends; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTame5BaXd2bg1jR1l0d2rm3rcmTN08CSo0lk7NL2OSEX9BZ52tPbbB9qKoOsw5pde1y388y54eoJbzsfA3p89qGuv0cyxZ6ua23207MBRiMWvpdnAXq-LxK3hmIcvb662Hd9cswuT5yj/s1600/eIMG_0720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTame5BaXd2bg1jR1l0d2rm3rcmTN08CSo0lk7NL2OSEX9BZ52tPbbB9qKoOsw5pde1y388y54eoJbzsfA3p89qGuv0cyxZ6ua23207MBRiMWvpdnAXq-LxK3hmIcvb662Hd9cswuT5yj/s640/eIMG_0720.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
we enjoyed the season's first spring vegetables combined with some of the last of the fall's roots;<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCA8MSMLuRIVB4HjGC3wDq3aAKpizUPEggrsYFGCqt71eudsqNB_Du9iLuRyA1-A2irE85E6X4-IInqEyO2CMYJDSvQOFfGJiLHC7LVBjTVdw_reSWYzfQrILHv82XqU94VM9W93t-YCoY/s1600/eIMG_0726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCA8MSMLuRIVB4HjGC3wDq3aAKpizUPEggrsYFGCqt71eudsqNB_Du9iLuRyA1-A2irE85E6X4-IInqEyO2CMYJDSvQOFfGJiLHC7LVBjTVdw_reSWYzfQrILHv82XqU94VM9W93t-YCoY/s640/eIMG_0726.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
we took cooking class;<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDkibs3nApq3UG1cPVXqWs7bjVwM3IgC0XDudL2b0aoAmUNq2fCjpEKzj5nqPzVXRQUom4WA3EWQsFDAIbgSqbVUWxSkjH7ErI9ezME_aBgc8mzujPT106HNowQi2Cx1Hpe3cWPkvF16X/s1600/cooking+class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDkibs3nApq3UG1cPVXqWs7bjVwM3IgC0XDudL2b0aoAmUNq2fCjpEKzj5nqPzVXRQUom4WA3EWQsFDAIbgSqbVUWxSkjH7ErI9ezME_aBgc8mzujPT106HNowQi2Cx1Hpe3cWPkvF16X/s640/cooking+class.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> and finished the week with the sunshine smiling on us for a spring celebration.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh536zA9we6O5AOY3Z4RlT0qBpUXhNgGAY4LJuVg3AppQ6M11uPquzxtJdVCFUiNVfsT9aMh4LzbOG8JT223YH3aZRnpMPsVKN3snplLhjw9zckmdIzSWSKUw_QAnnCIl95jPZf0r3SjTKN/s1600/eIMG_0781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh536zA9we6O5AOY3Z4RlT0qBpUXhNgGAY4LJuVg3AppQ6M11uPquzxtJdVCFUiNVfsT9aMh4LzbOG8JT223YH3aZRnpMPsVKN3snplLhjw9zckmdIzSWSKUw_QAnnCIl95jPZf0r3SjTKN/s640/eIMG_0781.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Sara Pearsall*</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And, I have no idea how I managed all this, while battling the first cold I've had in about a year.<br />
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*<em> Thanks to my friend Sara, who forgot her camera, for picking up mine and taking a bunch of awesome pictures.</em></div>Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374942054586258814.post-63879218326312039612012-04-02T04:35:00.000-07:002012-04-02T04:35:05.673-07:00Cooking something new: Salsify!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO169xOM_VrLN6xhgy6lmyMqieSTnzwIJMk-fGnKoZJJrzCl4BhjvTGPOuXAs7DaaTrhGUUTNfbrX_T5GRN3uanSQooqGFsBdG2Qk0WzoDYHGcOu2dLyei5qOwU0in241ErlpllAC-NxkR/s1600/salsify.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO169xOM_VrLN6xhgy6lmyMqieSTnzwIJMk-fGnKoZJJrzCl4BhjvTGPOuXAs7DaaTrhGUUTNfbrX_T5GRN3uanSQooqGFsBdG2Qk0WzoDYHGcOu2dLyei5qOwU0in241ErlpllAC-NxkR/s640/salsify.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Doesn't that look gnarly? If I dug that up in my backyard, I definitely wouldn't think to eat it. Lucky for me, I found it through other means.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Salsify! It sounds more like a verb than a vegetable. It sounds to me like the act of dancing the salsa. Salsify! In fact, I can't even seem to write it without an exclamation point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was scanning the seed catalog and few weeks ago and saw this root described as tasting a bit like artichoke, but looking nothing like one of my favorite foods. I was very intrigue. But, I haven't expanded my garden enough to grow all the vegetables I know I want, so I wasn't going to try growing something no one has ever heard of. Besides hubby doesn't even like artichokes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jump forward a few weeks ... Lo, and behold, <a href="http://www.kilpatrickfamilyfarm.com/" target="_blank">KFF </a>has been growing the stuff. So, what was the first vegetable I picked up at the farmers market on Saturday? You guessed it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nah, I didn't think it was necessary to tell hubby it's supposed to taste like artichokes. Let him decide that on his own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I chose a cheesy recipe that I thought might win over both my boys. Here's the recipe I started with: <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/rich-and-creamy-salsify-gratin">Rich and Creamy Salsify Gratin.</a> But, as I get older, I become less inclined to follow directions. So, here's what I did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFU0KAds1gdcQU4KyGogzdDACu0BHCg3yzxUEpoi6w7U34bZzNaGP0N7oueNLSvAYJ6Nj3_daTrQgOrU0k7UDnekaOBgjIumPger170H06RrjTkpjtg2r3cSDM-4g1_qsCx-_Ap1oxr41/s1600/salsify+peeled.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFU0KAds1gdcQU4KyGogzdDACu0BHCg3yzxUEpoi6w7U34bZzNaGP0N7oueNLSvAYJ6Nj3_daTrQgOrU0k7UDnekaOBgjIumPger170H06RrjTkpjtg2r3cSDM-4g1_qsCx-_Ap1oxr41/s400/salsify+peeled.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started off doing what they told me to. I peeled the salsify and kept it in cold water to prevent it from turning brown.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyID2teSWLut5AdYLF_GuxbS0UGTgQ-vWpX4LpHStInF0topeDyeOhj-asrujIlEPUp-IqwDfdRTdunew0Zdu4lhFV32eU-d5gP9ubZW6Su3lN3bjW6jsjvuASF0JVyiPx0i_pF5wGdaf/s1600/salsify+shred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyID2teSWLut5AdYLF_GuxbS0UGTgQ-vWpX4LpHStInF0topeDyeOhj-asrujIlEPUp-IqwDfdRTdunew0Zdu4lhFV32eU-d5gP9ubZW6Su3lN3bjW6jsjvuASF0JVyiPx0i_pF5wGdaf/s320/salsify+shred.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Then, I sliced it with my mandolin into 1/4-inch, or thinner, slices. As I worked, I kept the salsify in the cold water as much as possible.<br />
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Do keep it in the water. I noticed that as I was slicing it was turning brown.<br />
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(Here's the one <i>slightly</i> unpleasant thing about this vegetable. As I was peeling it, some funky, brown stuff came off onto my hands. It reminded my of pulling certain weeds that leave unpleasant junk on my hands, if I start pulling without gloves. This is not something that would stop me from prepare salsify in the future, but I thought I'd mention it.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2DX5bJBvH46S7Ima56hCSvKVx5qRPHdpixoWbnAlzOWfLLmtlqhXAsYTv4U01G20uCN5fBmYaMGtSLcKSr0m7i_A_-OvsQgwAtRYxzQUL5gt7ONvxytWlwzmoFt6b3eYnk93sLylufAj/s1600/salsify+ready+for+pot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2DX5bJBvH46S7Ima56hCSvKVx5qRPHdpixoWbnAlzOWfLLmtlqhXAsYTv4U01G20uCN5fBmYaMGtSLcKSr0m7i_A_-OvsQgwAtRYxzQUL5gt7ONvxytWlwzmoFt6b3eYnk93sLylufAj/s320/salsify+ready+for+pot.JPG" width="320" /></a>Once everything was peeled and sliced, I melted a couple of tablespoons of butter in a sauce pan, then mixed in a tablespoon of flour to make a roux. Then, added about 1 1/2 cups of whole milk, plus salt, black pepper and a bit of freshly ground nutmeg.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FGx5zdo_a6sHUffSUWCSV0CcBQCHV6OwOaEjOcdv8RgG9GeTIVmizS47wEbLt424nnSJWfvsU3FtEyoqaCaqdOwbacRl0dDT2Izz-Mlnh6M-RNopXJgP2FiX9rpHgvPcSRdLyiFZ7rgU/s1600/salsify+cooking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FGx5zdo_a6sHUffSUWCSV0CcBQCHV6OwOaEjOcdv8RgG9GeTIVmizS47wEbLt424nnSJWfvsU3FtEyoqaCaqdOwbacRl0dDT2Izz-Mlnh6M-RNopXJgP2FiX9rpHgvPcSRdLyiFZ7rgU/s320/salsify+cooking.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
As the milk started to thicken, I stirred in my salsify and let it cook until it was tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.<br />
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That got transferred to a casserole dish with some cheese sprinkled on top. I used a bit less than a 1/2 cup of a mixture of <span itemprop="ingredients">Gruyère and Monterrey Jack. The casserole went in the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes, then under the broiler for 5 minutes to slightly brown the cheese.</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients"></span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">In the excitement to eat dinner, I forgot to take a picture of the finished dish. But, you can imagine it looked very much like cheesy scalloped potatoes would look coming out of the oven. </span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients"></span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">The results: YUM! </span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">Well, those in my house who like artichokes thought it was delicious. Hubby turned up his nose a bit, and then wasn't pleased with me once I shared the description. He wasn't fooled.</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients"></span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">It <i>did</i> taste quite like artichokes. </span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients"></span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">So, as long as you like artichokes, give SALSIFY! a try. (And, just <i>try </i>to say that word without an exclamation.)</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients"><br />
</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients"><b>Cheesy salsify! gratin</b></span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">1 to 1 1/2 pounds salsify, peeled and sliced thinly</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">2 tablespoons butter</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">1 tablespoon flour</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">1 1/2 cups whole milk</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">salt and pepper to taste</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">pinch of nutmeg</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">1/4 cup (or less) </span><span itemprop="ingredients">Gruyère cheese</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">1/4 cup (or less) Monterrey Jack cheese</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients"></span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">Heat oven to 400 degrees. </span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">Start by getting a bowl of cold water handy. Peel salsify and place in cold water as you work to prevent browning. Thinly slice roots into about 1/4-inch pieces, continuing to keep any of the root you're not working with in the water.</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter, then stir in flour. Add milk to make a roux. Once the milk begins to thicken, add salsify, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Simmer until salsify is tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.</span><br />
<span itemprop="ingredients">Transfer to casserole dish and bake 15 to 20 minutes. Then, move under the broiler for about 5 minutes to lightly brown the cheese. Serves 4.</span>Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874157924735107698noreply@blogger.com0