Summer Bounty

Baby's first Farmers Market! Gotta start her out right. 

This summer we got to participate in the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program. "The FMNP was established by Congress in 1992, to provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants, and to expand the awareness, use of, and sales at farmers’ markets." As if we really needed any more motivation to get to the market, but how great is it that one of our nation's public health programs are supporting local and organic foods?!?!

Our loot from the Saint Paul Farmers' Market: 

Green bell peppers

Zucchinis

Onions

Tomatoes

Yukon gold potatoes

Early Season Apples! 

All for under $20! I love August for thus very reason. 

My summer favorite, a Caprese salad.

That's the only one I managed to take pictures of... most of the time I'm just lucky if I get to eat in one sitting. But here's some links to meals we've made recently using the bounty of the summer: 

garden pesto pasta 

easy quiche 

Though we used different ingredients this time: onions, zucchini, bell peppers, bacon and mozzarella! This meal is a great "garbage" dish because you can toss in whatever veggies you have leftover or whatever you have on hand. Mix up the cheeses, go sans meat, whatever you desire. 

potato/zucchini pancakes

zucchini bread muffins

Next week Jenna is going to teach us how to can tomatoes!!! Linnea and I can't wait! 

Zucchini Bread Muffins

I love summer veggies! I decided I had to do something other than Zucchini Pancakes this time around, and since my grandma sent me her recipe I had to try it out! 

The recipe is pretty basic, produces a delicious result, and is a great way to use your local, organic zucchini! 

Zucchini Bread Muffins

Yield: 2 loaves or 2 dozen muffins

2 cups grated organic zucchini

4 local free-range eggs 

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup olive oil (or any oil/butter)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon 

2 cups sugar (I did only 1 cup) 

3 1/2 cups flour

Optional: walnuts, chocolate chips, or whatever you want! 

First grate the zucchini. 

Mix the wet. 

Mix the dry. 

Mix it all together and then pour it into your muffin tin or a greased load pan. 

Bake at 350F - 25 minutes for muffins, 55-60 minutes for loaves. 

Our favorite way to eat them is slathered in chocolate peanut butter, or Nutella. 

Fresh out of the oven is delicious too!!! 

The MEGA Muffin

Do you ever make muffins, and the recipe says it yields twelve, but it actually yields about 18? 

And do you only have a muffin pan of 12? 

I always seem to have extra batter, so rather than waiting for the first batch and then baking 6 more, I made a MEGA MUFFIN. 

Isn't it great?!?! 

We had some bananas that were on their way out, so I made banana bread muffins. 

Follow the recipe, but shorten the baking time to 25 minutes for muffins. 

I think muffins are so photogenic! 

Add lots of dark chocolate chips. 

They are so gooey when they come fresh out of the oven!

Moist, not too sweet, chocolate and banana goodness! 

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This weekend I got a haircut - it doesn't look too drastically different, but she added short layers which makes my very thick hair feel so light! It will be perfect for the summer... if it ever comes. 

And we had the wonderful opportunity to listen to Richard Louv speak about his books Last Child in the Woods and The Nature Principle. I have read Last Child in the Woods, but I have not had the chance to get my hands on The Nature Principle, which just came out last month. 

 

"Last Child in the Woods is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond—and many are right in our own backyard."

The Nature Principle is "about the power of living in nature—not with it, but in it. We are entering the most creative period in history. The twenty-first century will be the century of human restoration in the natural world."

Many of the things Rich spoke to really resonated with us, and when he mentioned tree houses I can't tell you how many people turned to their neighbors and told them how much they wanted a tree house when they were growing up. I definitely wanted a tree house!!! We began dreaming of living in a small house with woods in the backyard for our children to explore, family staycations and camping in local state and national parks, and how to balance what will be inevitable societal pressures of video games and technology in our family's life. Rich offers a rich body of research and questions for Ross and me to ponder as we decide what our future family life might be like. 

source

His talk was inspiring and hopeful. He talked about working towards sustainability is perhaps to wrong path or terminology because it suggests stasis, unchanging and unmoving, which certainly isn't very exciting nor suitable for a changing and dynamic world. How about a sustainable creative future with real applications of sustainability creativity? The world is dynamic and so are people, and constant change is perhaps the only practical model. 

Cabin Fever

:::Sigh::: I have had some sort of super sinus bug for over a month now. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired! The weather is FINALLY warming up, and I just want to be outside running, or riding my bike, or anything. I am getting cabin fever! 

On a more exciting note, I finally found a way to get my favorite cereal that I have been missing - Kashi U Black Currants and Walnuts. It used to be stocked at Fred Meyer, but a few months ago they stopped carrying it - and the only place that apparently carries it in Bellingham now is the Wal-Mart. Boo. Not only am I not a fan, the Wal-Mart is completely on the opposite side of town where we never go. Not worth it. 

However, you can order it online! Of course - what can't you get on amazon.com? AND as it turns out it's cheaper and there's free shipping on Amazon if you subscribe to the cereal - so I can have 4 boxes delivered every 1, 2, 3, or 6 months. I caved. I am not usually a cereal person, but I LOVE this!

I think the black currants are the star of the show! Yummy! 

 Pro-tip: don't eat too much in one sitting (like I did the day they arrived) as they are high in fiber. Might actually ruin your day if you eat too much.

Speaking of things high in fiber... how about these Orange Carrot Flax Muffins?

On my Facebook status the other night I asked for advice on how to unclog my ear, and one friend suggested I bake bread. Well, I baked muffins, and perhaps that's why it is STILL clogged 5 days later. The baking was definitely worth it for these nutrient dense power-house muffins! 

Dry Ingredients: Mix together: 

3/4 cup flaxseed meal 

3/4 cup oat flour (I grounded up oats in the food processor) 

1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour 

1/2 cup brown sugar 

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp salt 

1 tbsp chia seeds (optional) 

2 tsp cinnamon 

dash of ginger, cloves, nutmeg

Wet Ingredients: Mix together:

1-1/2 cups shredded carrots 

2 oranges, peeled and demolished in the food processor 

1/2 cup craisins (optional) 

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped 

3/4 cup milk 

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla 

Then add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. 

Pour the mixture into those cute little muffin cups. 

Then bake at 350F for 25 minutes. 

Let them cool a bit. 

And enjoy the wonderful combination of flavors! I am a big fan of this muffin - it is not too sweet at all. 

What makes you feel better when you are sick? 

Probably naps and a good tea. 

The Market, Carrot Muffins, and a WINNER!

This past Saturday at the market meant a few new things, and a whole lot more people! While the sun wasn't exactly shining it was not raining and nearly 55 degrees, so the market was full of people!

The offerings were pretty much the same as last week; onions, leeks, potatoes, kale, but some chives and radishes were starting to make an appearance along with these - 

Sunchokes! 

....what?!?!? I have heard of them and eaten them before, but had never seen them in their whole, raw state. They look a lot like fresh ginger, but cook and taste similar to a potato. I was grateful that Rabbit Fields Farm provided recipe ideas and cooking directions. 

My loot for the week: 

Kale, chives, bok choy, potatoes, onions, sunchokes, jalapeño cheese, and apple chipotle sauce and a raspberry chocolate jam which I plan to use in some future muffins.  

After I got home and put away my loot I cleaned, started some laundry, and spent the afternoon baking. Lately we have been sticking with our favorite bread recipe, the honey whole wheat, but I bought some seeds and am excited to try a new seeded bread recipe soon! 

And speaking of a new recipe... I made carrot muffins!!!! 

I got the recipe from here. The ingredients aren't as overwhelming as they look... don't worry. 

Carrot Muffins 

Dry ingredients:                                              Wet ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups flour                                              1 1/2 cups grated carrots 

1 cup sugar                                                     3 eggs 

1 1/2 tsp baking soda                                     2/3 cup oil 

1 tsp baking powder                                      1/2 cup chopped walnuts 

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp each of salt, nutmeg, ginger  

Optional cream cheese filling: 

4oz cream cheese 

1 egg yolk 

1/2 cup sugar 

1/2 tsp vanilla 

I grated three whole carrots... 

Mixed the dry ingredients... 

Then the wet ingredients... 

Then all together.... 

Into the muffin pan with a little extra runny cream cheese filling. It just didn't work out for me... I don't know what happened. I think perhaps I didn't isolate the egg yolk well enough. 

But I baked them at 350F for 25 minutes... and while they didn't turn out like the pictures from the recipe... they were mouth-wateringly delicious!!! 

I ate 2 of them right away, warm and fresh from the oven... and then had another for breakfast this morning. They were wonderful despite the cream cheese filling mishap. Perhaps I will just leave that out next time all together. Or I'll figure it out. 

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Oh right, and I was going to announce the winner. Ok, so perhaps I put this on the bottom to build up some suspense.... 

The Winner from the Birthday Dinner Contest is.... 

John Bessey with 7 correct answers! 

The entries seemed to all make their way into my inbox rather than as a comment... it appears that people did not want others to cheat off of their answers. John - just let me know what kind of cookies you would like and your mailing address and they will be on their way later this week! 

The correct answers are: 

BEVERAGES (Hint: two people enjoyed the same beverage.) 

Jenn: Cabernet 

Ross: Fish Tale Organic Amber

Dad: Fish Tale Organic Amber Beer 

APPETIZERS 

Jenn: Mac'n'cheese 

Ross: Nimbus Slider 

Dad: Organic Greens Salad 

Shared: Truffle Fries 

MAIN COURSE

Jenn: Parmesan Poached Alaskan Halibut 

Ross: Whole Roaster Oregon Quail 

Dad: Pan Seared Desire Fish Co. Salmon

DESSERT (hint: two people shared one dessert) 

Jenn: Carrot Cake

Ross: Carrot Cake 

Dad: Lime in the Coconut 

I found it interesting that everyone thought I had the salad; must be because you all know I love my veggies! Ross was the adventurous one who ordered the whole quail. And as a point of interest - Ross and I are NOT fans of coconut in the least - that's all my dad. I don't we've ever really had coconut in our house. Sorry to all you coconut lovers about there. Thanks to those of you who entered!!! =)