Black Rice

     Black rice is my current favorite rice.  It is a little sweet a little nutty tasting and overall great for you.  The package I got at Costco says that it is "loaded with antioxidants, vitamins E and fiber. . .one serving has as many antioxidants as a single serving of cultivated blueberries."
     The first three times I served it to my kids, they were very unsure, skeptical, and verbally complained that I would serve such a strange thing.  They have accepted now that I'm going to keep cooking it, and now all eat it just fine.
     I cooked the rice with two cloves of garlic, minced.  When it cooled I added,
1 jalapeno
1 red pepper
1/2 c. corn
1/2 pound  ground sausage
Then I served the mixture in green peppers. 

    With the left overs, a few days later, I sauted garlic, onion and baby kale in the skillet then combined it with the rice mixture.  The flavors were yummy and the rice very filling. 
     I have had several people ask me where I get my kale.  I usually get it where other greens are sold, like spinach and collards.   Most recently, I noticed at Safeway, they have a baby kale in a plastic container.  It worked great for the above recipe. 
     Trying new things is intimidating for some.  I know for me I have learned to like kale because of the health benefits.

  Friends, live well, eat well.

End of Summer

Summer has faded and I am in full swing of planning meals, sports schedules and racing from event to event.  Motherhood is my marathon not a sprint.  I have found that the more I keep to a meal schedule the smoother our days go.  I must admit that I took a big break this summer from my  normal meal planning.  My husband noticed the hap hazard meals.  He said, " I think you took a vacation, when are you coming back?"  When I don't plan, I seem to have missing ingredient in the kitchen, get irritated and overall don't seem to get enough veggies into our meals.
     I really like to play  at the beach during the summer, which is a huge distraction from a routine.  I'm motivated, and  ready to go now.

    My three goals for this school year is to:
1.     Pack a variety of veggies and fruits into sack lunches
2.     Use less plastic bags
3.     Stick to the menu plan

     Celebrating my dads birthday with fresh produce from my brothers garden, sitting around a table with a bowl full of sweet cherry tomatoes is an ideal way to end the summer.

One of my personal goals for this blog is to include what I'm eating.  My hope is to encourage myself to be accountable and second to give you the reader ideas.
Today's menu:
Breakfast:  steel cut oats, raisins, coconut milk,
Snack:  half apple
Lunch:  black rice, stir fried kale, corn, zucchini with salsa
Snack:  carrots, almonds
Dinner:  whole wheat pasta, kale, green beans, sausage
Dessert: peach smoothie
Friends, eat well, live well.

Summer Basil

 I love to cook with fresh basil.  It makes my heart happy.  The above bruschetta is a simple yet elegant way to eat dinner.  The ingredients are simple.

Sourdough bread

4 Roma tomatoes

Feta

Grated Parmesan

Hand full of Fresh Basil

Sprinkle of salt and pepper

     For the past nine summers,  I make pesto and freeze it for the winter.  It is a tradition that is well worth the time and cash investment. The olive oil, almonds, lemon, Parmesan and fresh basil and garlic from the farmers market adds up to about 25 dollars.  Basil pesto for me, has awakening properties.  I feel better, think clearer, when smelling and tasting it.   I put it on

sandwiches,

pasta,

eggs, 

veggies,

and make lasagna and spinach enchiladas with it.

     I am thankful for basil!

Camping Rain and Shine



Priest Lake, Idaho



Using the "bear box" as a table.

I'm not sure why I feel like I need to take pictures when people are eating, but, I do. We camped at Priest Lake, Idaho and it rained almost the entire time. We stayed under blue tarps to avoid the lightening and rain.  What saved the trip for me is that we camped with eight other dear families and our kids had a wonderful time playing with their friends.
Our next camping was on Lake Roosevelt in Washington.  It was hot and this time our blue cover tent was for shade since the temperature was in the 90's.

 The water is my favorite place to be when it is hot.  I have a passion for swimming, more than any other form of exercise, swimming is at the top of my list.  We stayed by the water for eight hours. 

 It was great to sit and be with friends for the day.

  Camping and day trips take planning, team work, packing, unpacking, clean-up and much work for the parents, but my kids smiles filled with joy are worth all the work involved.  We ate watermelon at the end of the sun filled day.  I discovered that watermelon tastes so satisfying when you are hot. 

Why Do I Use Herbs?



Lemon Balm on Fruit and Chive Blossoms on Lettuce



Chicken, Zucchini, and Basil

 While eating dinner my kids asked me,"Why do you put so many leaves on our food?"  Excellent question!  I think that one, if your food looks beautiful, it tells your mind it is going to taste good.  Second,  fresh herbs inhance flavors and make veggies taste better.


Cucumber, Pepper, and Basil



 Lately, when I have been tucking my youngest daughter to bed, after prayers, she says, "For breakfast I want, a sandwhich with whip cream, and pink frosting, and sprinkles and a cherry on top."  I laugh, and tell her I don't have any cherries but that sounds yummy.  For me, gathering fresh herbs from the garden and sprinkling them on my food is like having a cherry on top. 

I never get tired of the sunsets each evening at our house.  It is like the "cherry on top" at the end of they day.  The pinks and oranges are so glorious, I wanted to share this photo.  I hope you have a day filled with great flavor! 

Farm Chick



June Lettuce



 I attended the "Farm Chick" show in Spokane earlier this month.  It is such an event that stirs me to be creative and embrace the urban farm chick that I am.  Being outside, and wrapping up school has not allowed me to sit and write or take many pictures of what I've been cooking.  I do know that my heart is full with thoughts of happiness;
 1) spending time with my family 2) watching my lettuce plants grow. 

I was so happy to share the farm chick show with my sister and her mother in law.  Vintage, creative, goodies as far as the eye could see!

 Last night, I ate the first of my lettuce crop that I started two months ago.  Planting and eating what you grow is such a simple joy.  I find it rewarding each year.  The lettuce is great the spinach, not so much.  It keeps bolting before I go to pick the spinach leaves.  Gardening is such trial and error, like so many things in life.  Today, I say, Hooray for lettuce! 

Mountain Air

      I went with my daughter to her field trip.  We were on top of a mountain at the Chewelah Peak Learning Center.  Fresh air, hiking, mountain views, huckleberry bushes, many 6th graders.  All are wondrous.  
     This green bush has light colored berries on them, soon to be dark beautiful huckleberries.  On our hike we saw bear, elk, and deer tracks.  Amazing.

     I am a forager through and through.  Gathering, picking, plucking, all  are tasks that I look forward to doing.  In the past I have picked apples, pears, huckleberries, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.  Pure Joy.  I strongly believe that food you have gathered or grown yourself tastes sweeter.
     Mountain air provides me rejuvenation, life, and clarity.  Today, I am thankful for the mountain air.