Spring Garden 2014

It seems like a very long time since I've done a gardening post.  There usually isn't much to post about in the winter months except for rain drops on leaves, however, this year things are different.  Since Mother Nature decided to skip winter altogether in California and go directly to spring, so I've decided to start my spring planting as well.  

Cincinnati Style Vegetable Chili

Like most people this time of year, I've been eating simple low calorie meals, in reaction to the carb loaded diet I found myself eating in November and December.  I made a big one pot meal of chili beans the other night adding a sweet potato and some kale.  This is the first meal I felt inspired to blog about all month, I've mostly been making soup.

Sweet Potato Coconut Dhal Soup

Soup is my coping mechanism for really cold winter days. We're just ending an extremely cold dry snap where the temperature went as low as 26˚ degrees at night.  I know that may mean nothing to you, where you live, but this is the San Francisco Bay Area and I spent the last week scraping ice from my windshield, and my garden is a frozen mess.  I made lots of soup. 

Apple Cranberry Pecan Tart

This Apple Cranberry Pecan Tart is one of my contributions this year to the big family gathering that has become a Thanksgiving tradition.  For the last few years we've all come together for a pot luck, to share our Thanksgiving favorites with four generations of family.  Of course, there is the dish that I must make every year, it's a non negotiable, the candied yams.  But I do always like to try a new dish or two if I can.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Pilaf

I also refer to this delicious sweet potato black bean quinoa pilaf as Halloween pilaf.  The bright orange of the sweet potatoes mixed with the black beans and seasoned with sage "butter" make it the perfect Halloween dinner. 

Apple Strudel

A few days ago my neighbor asked me if I wanted some apples, because she had so many on her tree that she and her family could eat them all.  Well, of course, I said yes.  I'm never going to turn down free fruit of any kind.  She gave me a big bag of these beautiful apples,  though, I'm not sure of the variety.

Roasted Corn and Mango Salad

Last month Mr RK and I went south for a little anniversary holiday to Baja Mexico.  I had a salad for lunch one day that would have knocked my socks off, had I been wearing any. Filled with fragrant roasted corn and large chunks of fresh avocado and mango, it was topped with a delicate lime cilantro dressing.  It was so delicious that I went back and had it again.