Thursday, April 29, 2010

Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies


I make lots of cookies for Mr. RK and sometimes I play around with variations of my original recipes.  I get bored making the same cookies all the time.  This time I took my basic chocolate chip cookie and added some instant coffee crystals.  Coffee and chocolate chips are two of Mr. RK’s favorite things so it was logical to combine those flavors into a cookie, which is his third favorite thing.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

First Blueberries of the Season


I picked my first blueberries of the season today, which I going to eat for breakfast tomorrow morning on top of my oats...yum!
Blueberries are one of the few fruits native to North America.  They’ve been gathered for centuries by  Northeast Native American tribes who called them “star berries”.  If you look at the blossom end of the berries above you can see that it forms a five point star.  The tribe elders would tell of how the “Great Spirit” sent the “star berries” to relieve the children’s hunger during a famine and keep them healthy.  I’m guessing this is because  blueberries are the first fruit of the season, after a particularly hard winter.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Daring Bakers' Challenge: British Steamed Pudding



April 2010 Daring Bakers’ Challenge was hosted by Esther of The Lilac Kitchen.  She challenged everyone to make a traditional British pudding using, if possible, a very traditional British ingredient: suet.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Happy Earth Day



It’s Earth Day, think about planting something.  I realize that many people don’t have back yards, or front yards for that matter but everyone has a window sill.  You can start an herb garden in a little window box.  Fresh herbs do wonders for a meal.

Celebrate Earth Day with a Green Smoothie



It’s Earth Day today, so I know your heads are full of thoughts about how you can decrease your impact on the planet...right??  I hope you’re thinking about how to use less foods and products that come in plastic containers, less chemical cleaners, herbicides and pesticides and how to use less energy and fossil fuels.  I also hope you’re thinking about recycling more and supporting local organic farmers.  While you’re contemplating your external environment, I also think you should give some thought as to your internal environment.  How can you make better food choices?

Thursday, April 15, 2010

April Garden Update



I thought I’d give you an April garden update.  Now that the rain has stopped, at least until next week.  I’ve been able to get outside and check on my garden.  Above is a picture of my apricots.  Most of them now have a rosy blush on them.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Coconut Curry with Tofu "Scallops"


I made this coconut curry the other night with little tofu “scallops” and Mr. RK had two helpings.  Generally, he’s not a fan of Indian food so I took it as a huge compliment.  I amped up the curry with some some pureed spinach and tomatoes and served it with a scoop of brown rice cooked with a tablespoon of coconut butter.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Butterscotch Tea Cake




It’s been raining for the last two days straight.  When it rains, and I can’t get out to work in my garden,  I curl up in a chair with a book.  By the middle of the afternoon, I start thinking about some sort of treat, to have with my tea.  I’m not a coffee drinker, I prefer tea, or chai, or roasted grain drinks that sort of taste like coffee.  So, I’m thinking tea cake.  

Polenta Vegetable Lasagna



Lasagna is one of my favorite foods, I have fond memories of it’s cheesy goodness.  However, I find it necessary for my health to avoid all that cholesterol laden cheese and refined wheat pasta.  But, why be so nostalgic?  Why not come up with a tasty alternative?  Which is exactly what I did.  This polenta lasagna is really good!!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Full Moon Planting & The Green House


It’s always best to plant seeds, for foods that grow above the ground, as close to the full moon as possible.  (You should plant seeds for food that grows below the ground, like carrots and beets, when the moon is new)  I took advantage of the March 30th full moon and started planting tomatoes, melons, squash and green beans.  

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Butterscotch Bunny Tarts



When I was a kid butterscotch pudding and I were best friends.  We spent a lot of time together.  I would make up a batch and eat it all by myself.  Somewhere along the road of life, butterscotch pudding and I lost tract of each other.  We had a reunion today, and it was good.
My original plan was to make some bunny tarts with a lemon curd filling.  But lemon curd and bunnies didn’t seem like a good match.  I decided I wanted to use a filling that was more kid friendly, and my mind wandered back to my childhood friend, butterscotch.