Wednesday, June 29, 2011

A Mouse in the House


This is my Director of Pest Management.  I’ve posted about her before.  Her main objective in life is to catch things and keep unwanted guests out of my garden.  She really does an excellent job of keeping the birds from eating our raspberries.  However, lately, I’ve been considering writing her up for dereliction of duty.  The squirrels have been eating my almonds and she’s done nothing about it.  I usually find her sleeping in the ferns.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Daring Bakers' Challenge: Baklava


Erica of Erica’s Edibles was our host for the Daring Bakers’ June challenge.  Erica challenged us to be truly DARING by making homemade phyllo dough and then to use that homemade dough to make Baklava.
Typical of most ancient recipes, the origins of baklava are claimed by many ethnic groups but no one is really certain where it originated.  The educated guess is Central Asian, with it’s more current form being developed in the imperial kitchens of the Ottoman Turks after they captured Constantinople.  The palace chefs came from all the different Ottoman territories, so it’s considered an urban creation and not an ethnic one.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tempeh "Crab" Cakes


I’ve wanted to try this recipe for tempeh “crab” cakes from the moment I read it in Isa Moskowitz’s Vegan Brunch cook book.  I have the book, so there was just no excuse.  It’s the perfect summer dinner, a protein we can eat on a salad.  As far a soy proteins go, tempeh is one of the best.  Now, you can have crab cakes out of season and no crabs need to be harmed in the making of your dinner.  Tempeh crab cakes are a lot less expensive too.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

After the Rains


In California it almost never rains after the first week of May, but this is the first week of June and it’s still raining!  It must be another sign of global climate change because I can never remember a time when it’s rained the whole month of May.  I haven’t ventured out into the garden much because the weather has been so unpleasant.  However, it now appears that the rains are finally over so it’s time to check on my garden’s progress.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Tofu Scramble


Tofu scramble is one of my favorite comfort foods.  When I get home late from work or I’ve had a bad day or it’s still RAINING and it’s June already, I turn to the tofu scramble for dinner.  It’s inexpensive and quick to make and it’s very good for you.