Bits of Happy

Another cold and blustery week… but it's the middle of January in Vermont so its to be expected.( I just wish I could walk outside for more than 5 minutes without my nose ruining and having the snot freeze to my face) Yup, cold and busy. My Dad has come back to Vermont for a long visit (he moved to Michigan a few years ago… jerk)  So while he is here I have been trying to put in as much  time as possible with him  all the while trying to do 8 million other things,   I figured I owe him a little bit of my time (and lots of food) for helping to raise me…I am such a good daughter. (2 thumbs pointed at me with a big smirk..) 

 Let me take you through a few little happy highlights of my week. 

The father and I went for a little hike with the pup on one of the milder temperature days… I drove to the trail, locked the car doors and off we went. After getting cold enough where I couldn't feel my hands-feet-face… we made our way back to the car. And I reached for the keys…and shuffled around in my pockets….and felt around in all my pockets again…. and again. Finally, I had to admit it, I dropped the keys. I got a little panicky (I was so cold and the car key is like 300 bucks to replace) but we did the only thing we could do. I stuff everything back in my pockets and off we went in search of the key. We got lucky, my dad found the key only a few minutes into the trail!!! Hooray! A happy hike with a happy ending.

Me and this little made some donuts, but screw the donuts(sweet potato with chocolate frosting).. look at the overalls! I decided a long time ago that when I have kids, they will be wearing nothing but overalls. Osh Gosh FOREVER! 

 FARM SHARE PICK UP!!! I was starting to go through veggie withdrawals.

 Shadow hearts for Valentines Day! I love Valentines Day..… or maybe I just love hearts and pink. Either way, I am getting ready for some V-day recipes! This one is a definite go….

 And beet dyed coconut sprinkles…I mean, talk about happy. 

 A late Christmas gift from Nicks mom. Every year she gives us s few of her hand thrown pieces….. love!!

 And I gave the mister a haircut!!! He has been asking me for about 2 months now to cut it, but  for some reason we just haven't gotten around to it.  So finally this week it happened, and I can see his lovely face again!

How can you not be happy when your piece of ginger looks like a little man. (right after I took this picture I cut his legs off)

Flowers from our garden last summer….. Sunflowers are my favorite (these are teddy bear sunflowers)…. I love looking back at old picture, especially ones from opposite seasons, like flowers in winter or pictures of snow in summer. There like little glimpses of whats to come. I can not say it enough, I am so lucky to live in VT..we have excellent seasons so there is always something to look forward too!

So yeah, a few little happy happys…..

Hope you all have some happy happys too! 

-C

SUPER SALAD!!!

For the past few days I have heard more complaining then happy. The biggest complaint…tummy issues.  A week of gorging on heavy, rich, and indulgent foods is finally catching up with people, turning them into grump asses. I can handle a little grump,  but its time to get get out of that funk and take care and stop bitching. May I make a suggestion? Eat this… You will be happy.  Your body will feel clean and nurised. Your tummy will get back on track.   It what I call satisfaction This salad is a complete meal .Chopped and shredded veggies atop a small heap of quinoa, tossed on a handful of lentils and topped with a dollop of lime avocado… Thats it and it is good. For the sake of picture-taking, I made a plate look all nice and pretty, with layers of  colors, but to be honest with you, I rather toss into a big bowl, grab a moderately large-sized fork and  food to face… and it's just as pretty.(the bowl of food is pretty, not food on my face) Quick note: the vegetables that I used here  are what I had at home. If you don't have one or two of these specific veggies, don't worry about it. Sub in something else, like pepper or spinach., Still have extra brussel sprouts, green beans or asparagus from thanksgiving? Go ahead and use those. If there is a specific veggie you know your stomach doesn't tolerate well, then maybe avoid using it. This is a happy feel good salad!A pile of vegetables is always a good start to any meal, especially these veggies.. All but the avocado came from my farm share. This is one  local organic meal of love.

Green Kale, purple cabbage, beets, red onion, carrots…I did a little shredding and some grating. I like to have different sized and textures in a salad.

Oh whats this? Diced butternut squash(from farm) sprinkle with salt and pepper waiting to be roasted. I am a huge believer in squash on salads…especially in a cold Vermont winter. A little bit of heartiness can really go along way. Quinoa.. 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water..Bring to a boil and let simmer until light and fluffy. When I make quinoa, I always make more than is going to be eaten, its great to have pre made for any meal.  Quinoa goes with everything, even a sprinkle of cinnamon and diced up apple for a nice breakfast or snack. I was making this for dinner for my mister who sometimes doesn't tolerate so many super raw veggies. So what I did and I recommend doing if you are worried about to many raw veggies at once, is to give them a really quick vinegar braise. I throw the veggie in a pan and drizzled red wine vinegar(you can use any vinegar you like) . Stuck a top on it and stuck it on the burner for a few minutes until the vinegar was gone. It just barely softens the veggies and  helps infuse the vinegar.Also a little easier for some to digest. Me, I like to eat it completely raw. Barely steamed kale, just enough to soften it. Again. raw is awesome too. Half a lime, half an avocado and a clove or two of garlic... guacamole…Call it what you will.

Salad contstruction… Quinoa. Kale. Cabbage, onion and beets.  Butternut squash. Carrots. Lentils and a nice sized scoop of avocado. But like I said, Bowl…,fork….. face. Tastes just as good. A super salad, full of flavor and healthy stuff, A salad that will  fill you up, leave you feeling full,  not gross. and is quite the looker if you ask me.

Super Salad

• 1/4 cup Quinoa
• 1/4 roasted Butternut squash
• 2-3 large Kale leaves
• 1/2 cup shredded Red Cabbage
• 1/4  grated Beet
• 1/8 cup sliced Red onion
• 1/4 cup grated Carrot
• 1/4 prepared lentils
• 1/4 of an Avocado
• 1/2 a lime
• garlic
• vinegar
• salt and pepper

This is the list of stuff that is in this salad. This is not a recipe that need to be exact.. Use more of something you like, omit whatever you don't. Just keep it simple and delicious. Dice up butternut into small pieces, place on baking sheet and roast till tender.  Add quinoa to water, bring to boil, then turn down to simmer  tip light ad fluffy. If you want steamed kale, stick kale in pot with a i/2 inch water and lid, and place on high for about 2 minutes, just until kale ha soften. The squash is roasting,(the smaller the pieces, the faster it goes)  quinoa is cooking and kale is soften,. Now grate or chop you veggies. Want them less than raw, place in pan with a bit of vinegar or just water and stick a lid on it. Medium heat for a few minutes, or until the veggies are slightly soften.. Dont over cook, you still want the veggies to have a bite and keep the good for you stuff.  Take avocado, chopped garlic and half lime and mash together.  Now everything is prepared and ready..Place strategically in a bowl or plate, quinoa, kale, squab, cabbage,beets, onion, carrots, lentils, avocado, drizzle with straight up vinegar.……..Or just throw it all together. Fork to FACE!!!