Organic Dill Pickles

Lord have mercy, it’s been too long. All I can say is that life is amazing, but busy! I look on with envious green eyes those that have the ability to consistently capture special moments. I am living the dream, but sadly in the buzz of activity, I forget to break out my camera. My head is now spinning with preparations for the new school year: photos for posters, newsletter writing, cooking video, parent meetings, Back to School night, class socials, and now we’ve just signed up for AYSO soccer. Ah, parenthood. Busy Bee aside, this is absolutely the most rewarding time of my life. Jake is blossoming in the most heartening way, and it’s so beautiful to watch. Here’s a recipe that I adapted for our garden program, “From The Ground Up.”  I switched all of the ingredients to organic, used unbleached sugar instead of white, changed the white vinegar to apple cider vinegar, giving the pickles a yummy, tangy bite, and iodized salt goes the natural way of the sea. But of course, m’ dears! I am also sharing the video for the recipe on this link, because heck, it’s awesome and informative, and I’m super proud of [...]

Salad Pizza

What a summer it’s been: Beachin’ it, barbeques, pool parties, and it’s been play date central over at our house. Honestly, we’re having one of the most amazing summers, and we’ve got a whole month to go! The only downside to being so social is that our my family life is so busy that I haven’t been able to share my wonderful recipes with you. Arghh, the many times I’ve baked beautiful pies, tossed delicious salads, and concocted pitchers of summer time drinks , then I dash off thinking, ” I need to post these yummies on the blog!” And that’s just my recipes. I have a few friends that are bad asses in the kitchen,so I’m going to have to hit them up for their recipes! Here’s a lightening quick recipe that we’re had a few times over summer. I’m all for making your own pizza dough, but heck it’s summer, and when I crave pizza, and fast, I snatch an organic ready made pizza dough off the shelf. Hey, I’m only human people! Here’s a zero guilt pizza. Serve olives on the side, pour a glass of sauvignon blanc, and you’re good to go! Salad Pizza mesclun mix [...]

Mixed Vegetable Rice

Mixed Vegetable Rice is a perfect “all in one” meal. If you’re feeling a bit peckish, serve it alongside Cauliflower Bhaji or Split Moong Dal soup. The recipe is quick, nutritious in every bite, and the Indian spices are cleansing for your body. Can’t seem to get your kids to eat their veggies? Cooking the veggies with the rice softens, seasons, and let’s be honest, camouflages the green stuff, as opposed to those green guys sitting there on the side of a plate, glaring at your kiddos. Saying that, Jake and I had to most amazing day this Sunday, picking fruit and vegetables from our friend Kira and Dave’s garden. Lettuce, cucumber, green onions, basil, sage, rosemary, lemons, plums. We made tacos in the evening, and Jake sat there eating the lettuce leaves from the garden with nothing on it, oohing and ahhing, “umm Mommy, lettuce from the garden!” Never say never. With thanks and praise, our children are constantly full of surprises.   Picking plums The Butch Bunch. The Princess of Posies Mixed Vegetable Rice 2 cups basmati rice 1 cup green beans, topped, tailed, and spilt in half 1 cup cauliflower buds 1 cups diced carrots 1 tomato diced [...]

Gluten Free Mixed Berry Crumble

Hands down, fruit crumble is my favorite year ’round dessert, and a comforting crowd pleaser. I usually make apple crumble, but  I decided to try it with mixed berries this month with delightful results. I love love love this recipe! Hold up: don’t ya just hate it when the cook says, “uummm, my recipe is soooo gooood?” As I write this, I’m cringing because I  loathe it when chefs (apart from Jamie, who can do no wrong) ooh and ahh over their own food, or better yet, when their mates, who they’ve invited spontaneously over for the taping of the show, tell us how tantalized their taste buds are. Meow! What’s gotten into me?? Although I am most certainly not a TV chef, nor do I have love-ins every week chez moi in the canyon with friends saying how jammin’ my food is (although a love-in sounds like a good idea), I can’t help but poke fun at the whole thing y’all. Seriously though, enjoy the smiles around the dinner table, comforted by the fact that you’ve served a delicious and wholesome dessert for your friends and family…in minutes. Gluten Free Mixed Berry Crumble 4 cups of your choice of fresh blueberries, [...]

Mango Lassi

There’s something mysterious about a mango lassi, or is it me? On the face of it, it’s a fruit shake, plain and simple, but the delicious, heaven scented twist of cardamom is simply next level. Call me a cheesy Westerner, but I immediately want to burn my Nag Champa incense and drape saris around my house (crickey, I am cheesy). Oh, you don’t fool me: I can’t be the only one who gets inspired and wanders through the adjoining grocery store grabbing jars of  Major Grey Mango Chutney, Lime pickle, saffron, huge bags of basmati rice, and if my supply is running low, English tea, stocking up on PG Tips, Early Grey, and Chocolate covered Hob Nobs. Wha hey. Mango Lassi is absolutely divine on it’s own, or serve it as a cooling accompaniment to spicy Indian dishes. Either way, it’s a winner, and a exotic shake to tickle your taste buds all year round. Mango Lassi 2 cups chilled mango pulp (or 2 ripe mangoes, peeled, cut, and blended) 4 cups plain nonfat yogurt 1/2 cup filtered water 1/4 teaspoon rose water (optional) 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder 4 tablespoons agave syrup (optional) 1. Blend all of the ingredients until [...]