A Monster Veggie Sandwich

Yesterday I spent the entire day (ok maybe not the entire day), but a the better part of the afternoon defrosting my freezer. Sure, I do the occasional chip chop here and there, just enough from around the freezer door so it will close, but ever few months I notice that everything in the fridge is not staying cold and that the freezer is not freezing stuff. Thats when I know its for real time to defrost. So a few days ago when I noticed my bananas were turing to liquid in the freezer, I knew it what I had to do….Completely empty the fridge  and melt/hack away the 2-4 inches of ice build up that accumulated. It is such a freaking pain in the ass.So on this defrosting day, I took all the stuff from the freezer, stuck it in a cooler, and the rest of the stuff, which is basically all veggies, I just tossed on the table. As I am hacking away with a metal spatual, a wooden spoon, and a constant rotation of pots of boiling water, I was thinking about dinner. I figured I might as well just eat up as much of the veggies as I could, you know, so I didn't have to put them back in the fridge. And also, I was getting pretty annoyed because this particular defrosting session was taking way longer the anticipated, which made making dinner seem like another pain in the ass.  I figured I might as well just eat everything that is already out on the table, which pretty much narrowed down the "whats for dinner" conversations because it was already all over the place. And so dinner was a humongo salad for me, and for the mister, I made him a monster of a veggie sandwich. (my salad was exactly the same stuff as the sandwich, minus the bagel) Easy, fast, super duper yummy, pretty and piled so high with tons of veggies that the fridge is pretty much empty now. 

Look at the is beast. I don't call it a monster sandwich for nothing.

The stuff included in this monster veggie sandwich..

Romaine lettuce, tomato, avocado for there is not real sandwich without them. Thinly sliced radishes, cucumber,a and onion for nice crispy crunch. Shredded beets, carrots, and purple cabbage to give  more crunch and a bit of sweetness. Then of course there needs to be something pickled, so I used banana peppers cause they are the SHIT!! And lastly some hummus for a nice creamy finish (plus a bit of protein) and yellow mustard because mustard on everything is just right.  Heres to a mountain if goodness that is no longer in the fridge! Served with a another mountain of roasted parsnips and carrots (more stuff from the fridge) and a tall glass of iced tea.

Lucky that today is farm share pick up cause the fridge is pretty much on empty. 

Yea it's Thursday!!!!

-C

A Monster Veggie Sandwich

Note. This is just a guide.. Feel free to use whatever veggies you fancy. 

• Either a bagel, 2 slices of bread, or a big chunk of baguette (use a gluten free bread if you want or need too)
• Hummus- Homemade or store bought
• Mustard
• Something pickled like pickles, banana peppers , jalapeños or all three 
• Lettuce, spinach or some kind of leafy green
• Tomato
• Avocado
• Onion
• Radishes
• Cucumber
• Shredded Carrots
• Shredded Beets
• Shredded Cabbage

To assemble. Ready your bread.. Toast if you want, and stick it on a plate

On either side, smear the hummus and the mustard.  

Pick a side, start to stack by evenly disrupting veggies on top of veggies. Place the second piece of bread on top and  giving a little smooth to keep it together.

And go at it. Cut in half or don't. Have a napkin or a long sleeve ready to wipe your face.

happy bits

 This week was good.  Two days in a row the front door was open, the window was open and the heater was off, which pretty much made me that happiest person in the world. My spring cleaning brain has kicked in and I want to clean everything (even the walls). I even spent a good part of an afternoon moving and rearranging furniture. (The house ended up basically the same as when I started) And one of the best parts of the week….most of the snow melted! I am getting super hyped to start raking, cleaning, planting and weeding and and just getting really dirty! Oh how I love the spring!

Here are a few internet things from the week

- Ancient Grains are new again About time!

- This article about the chemistry of cookies is a good one….

- Oooohh pretty.  String art

-How to Do Fishtail or Herringbone Braids Step by Step  I need to start doing something with my hair besides a really sloppy pony tail that I don't take out for days on end. 

-I think I want to make this Honeycomb shelves.

And  some real life happy Oh Intervale Community Farm..I love you. I picked up my farm share and was especially pumped  for another gigantic kohlrabi and some locally grown, locally milled wheat flour.

  The trees, they are a budding

 The perfect ripeness, destined for naner ice-cream!

My sister and I took this little for a sled ride through the wood where there was snow (but it was 45 degrees!) The hike ended up with me  pulling her through a field of mud. It was fantastic. 

One year ago today. Dinner with my favorite people. 

Hope your weeks was awesome and warm..Spring is just about here to stay!

Have a great week!

-C

Bits of Happy!

No matter what is going on in my day, seeing a blue sky like this puts a smile on my face….To bad that smile turned to ice and my face froze in place. Because for some reason, winter around here now means below zero all the time. I mean, I love winter, but I am not going to lie… I wouldn't mind if the wind would stop blowing and we had a couple of days of above zero weather.. and maybe a good foot of snow. I guess I'll just have to be patient, cause its bound to happen. I mean, we live in Vermont, and if nothing else, we get weather. 

Anyways.. another week full of stuff that fills. I am a little taken aback that its already February… when was it January? Time just keeps going by fast and faster, (especially when I get cabin fever) and I think, "What have I done in the past year?" Well, I have done a lot. I was just looking through pictures from a year ago and found some of our tiny home in working progress. Not to many people can remodel a five unit house and a meat locker to live in, within a year.. by ourselves. (ourselves being Nick and I)..So yeah, that made me feel pretty freaking awesome and accomplished. (I needed to remember that because I haven't been feeling it) But now I am feeling inspired and am looking forward to some new projects and fun things to come! (hopefully getting my pottery studio up and running, maybe another house remodel and lots of traveling!!…. take that winter blues!) 

Anyway.. here are a few little bits from my week that made me happy.

The mister called these snow mounds goosebumps… I think that is exactly what they are 

The only warm day this week. (20..woo whoo!) Took the little out for a sled ride. She spent the entire time dragging her hands in the fresh snow. 

And oh how I cannot  handle how freaking cute she is!! Plus, a shout out to my brother in law….MADLOVE!

Fresh snow..Even though it was -15, I had to stop and take this picture. The colors were amazing

Cabbage at the farm share pick up! Love ICF!!!

89 cents a pound for fresh organic cranberries. Score!! Made these Oatmeal fresh cranberry coconut chocolate chip cookies with them. Big hit.

This picture was taken exactly a year ago…..The mister and I were finally putting in the bathroom of our tiny little home…. And look at that awesome sink! (another amazing salvage yard find) If you ever need or want to remodel a bathroom, I suggest using a old cast iron utility sink. So practical, so functional, so pretty.….it makes me happy everyday!

Happy Sunday!

Happy February!

And if you are into it….

Happy Football Super bowl Game and or party! ( If you need any awesome fast party recipes, I have bunch, just check out the recipes page!)

-C

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!!!