Sunday, June 27, 2010

Mmmuffins!



Yummy! Rhubarb Banana Muffins feature Maple Sugar (a product available locally). I took a risk mixing these up the night before, delaying the baking until the next morning, and fortunately, they turned out! I had enough for 24 mini cups, as well as two mini loaves of banana- rhubarb bread. These were great to bring to a brunch. You can't beat morning potlucks!

Freshness To Go!


Having fresh vegetables stocked in your crisper drawer can turn into an attractive appetizer for friends at a barbecque. It's great to use up the things you have, and it's also nice to add water to your diet through the consumption of crisp, fresh veggies!

The grape tomatoes were getting wrinkly, so I sliced them, and they tasted great! I washed and sliced the celery, snap peas, and carrots and arranged them in an attractive manner. I served these with a french dip that I made from a packet where you add two cups sour cream.

Enjoy color, enjoy your veggies, and don't forget to buy LOCAL and ORGANIC!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Reasons to send money to Haiti

Haiti: Two Children and a Tarp —

You should take the time to absorb this story. Really, put your life into perspective. It's a tear jerker, for sure. -kate

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Toss Together Tacos

Maybe the blog title here is a little misleading, because it took a fair amount of time to develop this dish. I placed some collard greens in a pan and stirfried them. At the same time, I sliced carrots into a pan and fried them a little, too. I used on-hand items of Green Peppers, Yellow Banana Peppers (from a jar), a spare tomato, some leftover refried beans, a bit of sour cream, and I put flax oil over it. I also put some on yesterday's egg salad sandwich.



Finally, I lightly fried the corn tortilla in oil and put on some marble jack cheese for taste and color. There's always room for salsa, and other fresh greens and herbs. I enjoy using cilantro in these situations.

French Toast: Best Creation Ever!

You've got it down, I like bread. Whomever thought to toss some egg and bread together, what a genius! It appears it may come from Spain.

I could do better next time, but this was a simple recipe. Plain Rice Milk (1/2 cup), Two eggs, four slices bread, and sprinkled powdered sugar and maple syrup.

I could take a better photo, also. Alas, you get this. French toast... best hot.

Clubbin' it at Ten P.M.

CLASSIC CLUB SANDWICH:

Two Slices of Bread, Toasted and smeared with Veganaise, then a bit of Pineapple Mustard to taste. Sliced Carribean cheddar placed onto warm toast and melted slightly with that correct timing. Green Leaf Lettuce and Shaved Turkey with Bacon and a slice of tomato. Side Salad of Green Leaf Lettuce, Cucumber peeled and sliced and a few cherry tomatoes and some cute, crispy dill pickles ( I recommend Milwaukee Midgets! I could eat an entire jar in a day). Of course, some French dressing (not shown).

Afternoon Eggs and Discussion about Food Sources


Eggs are incredible, and versatile. But, you need to make sure you're getting the best kind of eggs, which would be those from happy chickens allowed to roam freely about the land; and allowed to obtain the best nutrients and sunlight and to stretch their legs.

These eggs are beautiful, brown, multicolored, and generally have big, beautiful yolks, a darker orange / yellow, versus the commercially produced white -shelled eggs with quarter sized yolks. Buying free range eggs supports and encourages farmers to continue the production of these chickens.

I recommend a couple of things for you to look into to understand why I say this. First off is the reason that I turned vegan for a couple years, with the support of a decades-long vegan in the same home. I want you to pick up and read "Diet for a New America," by John Robbins.

Robbins is a man who was heir to the Baskin-Robbins fortune back in the 1980's. Robbins turned his back on the opportunity to acquire a new lifestyle. He researched and traveled and documented our food supply, and found out lots of scary things. The book is as old as I am, but certainly earth shattering to this day. Take heed, though, it contains graphic information as pertaining to factory farming of animals.

Rolling Stone has removed the article "Boss Hog" from their website, but if you can find a back issue at your library, please enlighten yourself. It is the December 14th, 2006 issue.

This posting
by Smithfield Foods at their website lists no less than twenty-nine items, attempting to defend their reputation so boldly picked apart by America's favorite pop-culture and music magazine. The authors of "Boss Hog" get down and dirty, highlighting extreme cases of incidences of death as a direct result of the waste stream produced as a side-effect of Smithfields' pork production. Pork can be clean, but only so on a smaller production scale. The bottom line, is, buy local, and research where your meat comes from. It's also about moderation. Remember the "Sunday Roast", where meat is a delicacy. This is why I don't eat meat every single meal.

This Blog
highlights further details contained in the article. Regardless, do your part to become educated about your food.

Finally, to afternoon eggs.

We constructed egg sandwiches from two cracked eggs stirred lightly, not seriously whisked or inflated with air in that fashion. It was cooked in a cast iron pan, and flopped between two slices of bread, topped with Green Leaf Lettuce, and then sprouts sprinkled over it. I went the extra mile, adding pineapple mustard, store bought, but homemade, salsa. It was a delicious way to infuse protein into the afternoon (three p.m.) and to use ingredients available to me.

Next time, I'll toast the bread, and I'll sprinkle Brewer's Yeast flakes (also called Nutritional Yeast) and I'll dollop sour cream or Greek Yogurt, also.

Enjoy eggs.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Summer Time = Fresh Time


Returning from a weekend across the state where we enjoyed genuine jerk chicken assembled neatly with beans and rice, and washed it down with 'jammin' juice' (what was in it, I'll never know-- that's classified top secret), it's good to be back at the 20" Kitchen. Our breakfasts consisted of commercially, mass produced soggy eggs, although organic, I had a problem with that, hangover or not!


It was nice to take a bite from some roasted sweet corn, and homemade maple nut ice cream. The nicest thing, I think, was the compostable tableware. I'll have to take a pass on the compostable coffee cup, It lacked in sidewall strength, but the durability came from sitting at a picnic table in the woods, enjoying company of new folks!


Upon return to the beautiful Chippewa Valley, we made a quick run to the Co-op grocery for fresh foods and then to the conventional grocery store for fresh meat, it was easy for us to decide the theme of the week: Fresh.


With two at the chopping board, it is easy to toss together a salad of Green Leaf Lettuce, half a cucumber, an entire red bell pepper, a carrot, and several sweet delicious nuggets--- strawberries. Topping this salad was my favorite dressing from when I was a kid-- French. Lovely orange color and zesty taste!


After driving home three hours in a hot car, it was refreshing to eat some chicken, quickly stir fried with Bragg's liquid Amino's, several cloves of garlic, and of course. pepper. Thrown into a bowl and then topped with all salad ingredients, I dug in, immediately, and for the first time, beat my boyfriend to second helpings.


Sorry for the non-fresh photo-- as you can guess, I'll be eating a delicious leftover salad for lunch.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

It Doesn't Have To Be Fancy

Dinner time.

It seems like a common perception that we have to build up dinner to be this big deal. What's most important about dinner is eating wholesome foods that nourish and provide some benefit with nutrition as the top candidate for the seat.

I think dinner can be at anytime of the day--- When I worked in Hampton, Iowa, the noon hour was referred to as "dinner".

I feel that vying for the top spot at "dinner" in my household is sharing that special time with people I care about, and offering things I made to nourish mind and spirit.

Don't worry about serving up a big hot dish, or a fancy salad. Be more concerned about relaxing over a simple dish, and absorbing the day's events, and looking forward to an evening of rest with those you love.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Repurposing

It's Tuesday. You're staring at that leftover "crap" you made this weekend. Take Friday's Spaghetti noodles and add them to the Portabella Mushroom sandwich (sans sandwich bread) and add some garlic, then stir together in a frying pan. This takes five minutes, tops!

Eat with a smile, you didn't have to slap together a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Past Projects I


This salad is a combination of favorites-- >


Base:

It is Romaine Lettuce, Chopped with a lettuce knife (a green gripped handle with a clear plastic blade, purchased at local discount retailers).

Top It Up!

Toppers on this are Carrots, Flame Raisins, Dried Cherries, Green Peppers, Spanish Rice, Pineapple Chunks, Veganaise (Grapeseed type -- Purple jar, although the green expeller pressed is good, too).

Protein?

It is topped with protein- packed almonds. I prefer raw or lightly roasted varieties. I like to use nuts and seeds whenever I can, if they are around.

Add Dressing; add Flavor!

Sometimes I'll toss a helping of salsa on my salad, or maybe a few chunks of leftover meat or potatoes, or pasta sauce.

My favorite salad dressing is homemade Caesar--- a true Caesar can take hours on end to prepare, but is worth wowing guests and using for multiple items in a meal (i.e. Caesar Grilled Chicken and paired with a salad topped with Caesar.).

I'll use my basic and convenient favorite standby-- Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil, although you could use Flax Oil (shake that bottle up!) as well. I think Apple Cider (Braggs) is helpful to absorb toxins in your system and send them packing.

A Catch All For Leftovers

Salads are open for anything, from Tomatoes to Onions to Celery and the like. It's great to use anything you have sitting around (Garden Fresh Herbs!) and add it in. You can get away with adding heart-healthy fresh Garlic to a salad when you toss that in a bowl with the Balsamic and Oil first.

A Salad A Day.....

Somehow, I end up eating salad every day and I think it's important for your calcium and vitamin intake. Anything you add to a salad is going to make it that much better to taste, and for your body. I find that eating a few bites of salad before a large entree --- and after, can help that big meal to go down faster. I don't think there's such a thing as too much green salad, because it compacts as you begin the digestive process, with every bite.

Salad! A wonderful addition to any meal!

Welcome to the 20" Kitchen

It's about time to make an effort at venturing into the creative unknowns, exploring the fun you can have with a kitchen knife, a cutting board, and culls-- the food you wouldn't buy, but they wouldn't toss. Hmm... What will we create next?

I can't promise regular posts, nor can I say that it will all be delicious and beautiful, but I can certainly offer you an experience which includes kitchen and household tips, and an attempt to bring beauty to the web with photo documentations.

There is a lot of knowledge to be gained, as well as experience. Your constructive criticism is welcomed, on photography and on dish ideas. Too bad there isn't smell-o-vision.

Thanks,

-20"Kitch