Sunday Happy

Cool and dreary spring days. My absolute favorite weather, well besides the full on allergy face I get when all the green stuff pops, but I will take itchy eyeballs and a leaky nose for this any day. I mean, how can you not love watching all the colors grow into living stuff? It is pretty freaking fantastic.

Nothing to exciting happened this week. Went for walks, played in the garden and threw some seeds in. The mr caught the woodchuck (he moved in under the porch.. he had to go) and released him into into the wild. I read a lot, worked in the studio, and we did the stuff we needed doing . And that is about it. It was a quiet week but I needed a quiet week.

Back to Sunday. I have a handful of pieces that I need to glaze so I am going bop into the studio for a few while the mr does a little work. After that we are going to find a trail to hike and a place to picnic lunch. And I will probably close out the rest of the day with hot coffee and tea, on the porch, reading. A good day for sure.

Internet from the week.

-Need a Mothers Day gift or maybe just a little something something for yourself? Check out my instagram @stemandnode. I got mugs, planters, and espresso mugs sets for sale!

-My morning runs have turned into a obstacle course trying not to step on all the worms. They are everywhere! Why Do Earthworms Surface After Rain?

-Skates, sewing machines, and sex toys: See the everyday objects that got us through COVID-19. I think the one big change that happened with lockdown was the gym closed so my bike and my running shoes got me through.

-I can’t even imagine trying to get he mr on this thing. He can barely make it over the 50 ft long one over the river. World’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge opens in Portugal

-This Retro Cooler Is Back in Action. I love these coolers!

-Having a hard time sleeping? Look at you diet and when you are eating. Like me. I drink large quantities or tea at night and wonder why I have to get up and pee like 5 times. Is your diet keeping you up at night?

-Epicurious Ditches Beef In A Move It Calls 'Pro-Planet'. I cool with this

-Mattel Created Nearly 200 Retro Glam Vintage Barbie-Themed Wallpaper Designs. Toy to wallpaper….Thats a natural progression.

-I have been thinking a lot about this windbreaker

-The Coming Conflict Between Introverts and Extroverts. I agree. The best plans are the ones you make with people who then cancel them on you. HA!

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

Ah, another week down. And how was it for you? Was is warm and spring all week or did you get a late April snow storm? We got a few inches in the middle of the week. And honestly I might have grumbled a bit, but mostly because I couldn't bike for a couple days. Other then that, I freaking loved it. Soft fluffy snow one day, 60 degrees the next. And this is why I love VT!

Beside a weird summer, winter weather swing, the week was not to different fro the last. Both the mr and I have been doing our things. Him off redoing a kitchen, me trying to get a big batch of mugs done. I was (and still am) trying to finish up the taxes and all that jazz. We also (and more the mr then me) finished putting up the garden fence and I am in LOVE with it. It is so cute but also so needed! Sure the squirrels can still get it ( they jump in from the trees but I am not to worried about them) but it will keep the bunnies and cats and woodchucks out. Hopefully. Last years garden fiasco really hurt my soul so those little fuckers better not this year. HA!

Did a few other fun things. I went to the dentist! That was super exciting given the fact that they we closed for 1/2 a year and this was the earliest appointment I could get. Nothing like a good teeth cleaning, am I right? And I went for a nice spring hike with Meg, Barb, and the kiddos. So found a big river rock at the beginning of the hike and made Megan carry it for an hour and a half because she was convinced she found a dinosaur egg. I was convinced too. But now that I think of it, no one had informed me of a hatched dinosaur so I think it was probably just a rock. We also had the littles over. I fed them all the food. Judah and I made cupcakes. Barb got frosting all over her clothes. Coco ran around like a like mad man, and Miley, well she was 13. Enough said.

Yesterday was one of those super gratifying days. I woke up to late spring again. Went for a bike ride and a run then came home to the mr doing a few things for me and off he went to work. I then spent the rest of the day in and out of the house doing yard work, playing in the garden, and cleaning the house. It was so nice, if not slightly frustrating because I wanted to do everything at once and didn't get more done. But none the less, at least I got some seeds in the ground. And my house is nice and clean!

Today is suppose to rain all day and I am glad about it. I think the mr and I are going to have a little chore date this afternoon and then after chores I hope to spend some of the rainy afternoon sitting on the porch with coffee and a blanket and my pile of books. I am currently in the throws of reading 4 books at the moment. Not exactly sure how that happened but I know 2 of them are new releases so I can’t renew them which means I gots to read them before they are due. Library problem right?

Interesting internet from the week.

-Taking On Climate Change At Home: How You Can Cut Carbon Emissions. Every little bit counts.

-I think this is very good advice. Don’t Wish for Happiness. Work for It.

-We knew about the shortage, so heres what to do about it. How to Cope With the Garden Gnome Shortage

-WTF Is Absinthe Anyway?. I have never had it but always thought of it as tripping on the green fairy cause it makes you hallucinate? But I bet I would love it (maybe too much)

-The “Whitest Paint On Record” Was Just Created, and It Could Lessen the Need for AC. Huh.

-If you are a juggler, this house is for you. A Double-Dome Home Built by a Juggler

-The Swedish Law of Wanderlust. Unrestricted camping and outdoor adventure.When it is safe, this is where I want to go!

--Sorry to crush your goals but You (Probably) Can’t Everest Mount Everest.

-The Sneaky Way Your Dirt Is Sabotaging Your Houseplants (and How to Fix It). The dirt your plant live in is very much important.

-ON TREND: LESS STYLED, MORE YOU. All so pretty.

Pictures from the week.

Chili Lime Jicama Slaw

I don’t know about you but springtime has got me wanting to eat all the things that are fresh and bright and not super heavy. Things like big salads are on the top of my list. Or slaws like this jicama slaw. It is A+ and perfect for springtime munching.

Jicama. Maybe you have heard of it, maybe not. It is a vegetable, a tuber to be precise. And it tastes like a crunchy, juicy, not sweet apple, but also kind of reminds me of kohlrabi. And it slightly nutty, with a hint of potato? Just know it is delicious. You might have even had it and not even been aware of it, in say a salad or maybe spring rolls. Anyway, if you haven’t had it, it is definitely worth trying like in this slaw which is basically just jicama with cabbage, carrot and onion tossed in a cumin chili lime situation. It is fresh and crunchy and spicy and filling and all the things that I want be eating right now.

What we have it a really dang tasty and a quick toss together situation. What more can we ask for?

To the jicama slaw!

The stuff. A small jicama, a carrot, a hunk of red cabbage, chili powder, cumin, a lime, red wine vinegar,a little maple syrup, and salt and pepper.

Cumin, chili, maple, and vinegar go into a big bowl and get mixed around. Pop the bowl into the microwave if you can and heat it up for like 30 seconds, just o take a bit of the rawness of of the spices.

Now peel the jicama. Use a sharp knife and carefully peel away the brown skin from the white flesh. Do not leave any of the skin on cause it is not good to eat!

Once the jicama is peeled, grab a mandolin and julienne it (or cut into thin matchsticks with a knife). Then julienne the carrot and shredded the cabbage and onion.

Dump all the veggies into the bowl with the spices then add in the juice of the lime and a pinch of salt and pepper.Toss around until evenly combined and coated.

There you have it. Chili lime jicama slaw. Now you eat it. As a side to any dish you wish or just as it is, a big bowl of goodness.

-C

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Chili Lime Jicama Slaw

Serves 3-4 (as a side)

• 1 medium Jicama (around 3 cups julienned)

• 1 small carrot

• 1 small onion

• a small hunk of red cabbage

• a lime

• 3/4 teaspoon cumin

• 3/4 teaspoon chili powder

• 1 teaspoon maple syrup

• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

• salt and pepper

Place cumin, chili, maple, and vinegar into a large bowl. Mix around and pop into the microwave for 20-30 seconds just to heat it up a bit and remove some of the rawness of the spices.

Peel the jicama. Do it with a knife (so carefully) and remove all of the tough brown skin away from the white flesh. (Do not eat skin..It can make you sick). Now either with a mandolin of a knife, julienne the jicama along with the carrot. Use a thicker setting for the jicama and a thinner one for the carrot. Shred or thinly slice up the cabbage and onion as well. Toss all the veggies into the bowl with the spices. Squeeze in the juice of the lime, add a pinch or two of salt and some black pepper and toss around until everything is evenly combined and coated.

You can eat it right away but It taste better when it has had a chance to sit for a little while.

Serve cold along with anything. Or eat on it’s own. Store left overs in fridge for up to a week.

Sunday Happy

What a week. We had sunshine and we had snow. I was hot at time and I was cold at time. My eyes Itch but I don’t care because the world is turning green again and there are flowers and tree buds and veggie starts and all the good things. This is why I love spring so much. It is crazy and unpredictable and more or less not to sunny and not to warm. (I like me a cool cloudy day!)

Stuff happened this week. We had a farewell dinner for Mark because he is now off in the Police Academy which is so freaking weird and now I have a guy on the inside to delete any and all parking and speeding tickets I plan on getting in the future. Ha!. The mr, Barb, and I went for a much needed drive out of town to a river. We had a picnic, watched that water flow, played with rocks. You know, river stuff. Oh and I got a new bike!!! Well not new new but new to me. Ever since I got my bike stolen last fall I have been on the look out for a new one and I got to tell you, things in the bike world are not great right now. New new bikes are a million dollars and even the reasonably priced ones are hard to find cause of lack of inventory (because covid). And used bikes, well finding something that works, not garbage, and fits, is a pain in the ass. But it finally happened and I am just a happy lady on her bike again!

And now my garden, it is being fenced! The mr has been bugging me for a few years now to fence it in and I finally caved. I don’t know why I have been so hesitant about it but I just never wanted a fence. But now that he is putting it up well I am so excited! And the mr being the mr, he is making is so freaking cute and pretty and I am just really really excited and can’t wait for it to be fully up so I can put some shit in the ground and not have it eaten by the massive woodchuck lurking in the neighborhood!

Other then all that good stuff, same old same old. Made plans with the littles for sleepover next week while they are on spring vacation. Worked on pots, sat with the piles of papers then decided I would rather clean the fridge. Picked up second to last farm share. Ate all the greens. Basic life stuff.

And it is Sunday, again so soon. The mr and I are planning on a little drive to a place. Not sure the place exactly but I am hoping for a river/woods situation. A little hike, he can do a little fishing. I can sit by the river and read. That is my hope for today. That and to get all the laundry done. I have been ignoring it and now I have to deal with it. Stupid laundry.

Internet from the week.

-Your Biggest Climate Decision Isn't What You Cook—It's What You Don't. Food waste is one of my biggest anxiety triggers. Holidays and little kids… It can get pretty intense.

-The state of the plant-based food industry. And maybe stop eating so much meat.

-'Comfort Decorating' Is All About Making Your Home A Sanctuary. The key is to make is comfy and not ugly. HA!

-I never thought I would see the day. Gnome shortage: Lockdown and Suez canal blockage blamed

-Why Do We Compete? Sometime a little competition is a good thing.

-I am in love with this house and the property and can’t wait to see the renovations. LAKESHORE RENOVATION | PART 1

-I Got High to See if Weed Would Help Me Work Out. I don’t get high before I work out but when I use to go to the gym there was sa group of guys that came in that were always high as fuck. I always thought that if they were coming to the gym stones, well they were still coming to the gym so who care if they are stones.

-This is not a joke. Fancy Feast Released a Cookbook So Cat Owners Can Coordinate Meals with Their Pets. So how do you feel about this? I mean, well, why not?

-Watch out for those baked goods. Mystery tree beast turns out to be croissant

-I love a good scallop. Trend Alert: 21st Century Scalloping

And some pictures from the week.

Sweet Potato Steaks on Arugula and Kale with Pea Avocado Cream

All I want to do is eat fists fulls of arugula. Ok, maybe that is not all I want to do, but it is something that I have been doing a lot. I have always really like arugula but as of right now, it is my top choice green!

Anyway, big green salads are all I want to eat because it is spring and all and greens are the best in the spring. But I still am eating a lot of roots and will be eating them for a few more weeks unit winter farm share dies down. And because it is the end of the season, the choice of roots is dwindling and we basically get a bucket of carrots, beets, and sweet potatoes. Lots of sweet potatoes, which by the way, I am not made about. And greens, We get lots of greens!

So my new favorite salad comes to fruition. Thick cut sweet potato steaks on a bed of fresh spring arugula and kale toped with a thick creamy avocado pea situation and some toasted walnuts for flair and crunch. I mean, is your mouth watering and your tummy grumbling yet?

Mine is but that is just how it always is.

Now to the steaks and salad!

The stuff. A sweet potato, some arugula and tender kale, peas (frozen and thawed) half an avocado, some toasted walnuts, a lemon, and salt and pepper.

Start by cutting the sweet potato into thick steaks. 4-5 same thickness slices if you may.

And no roast up the sweet potato steaks. Just place hem onto a baking sheet and pop them into a hot oven. Bake for 2-30 minutes, flipping over after 15-20 minutes. Once tender, remove from oven and set aside.

While sweet potatoes are baking, make pea avocado cream. Place peas and avocado into a blender or cup if using a hand blender along with the juice of the lemon and about a tablespoon of water. And a small pinch of salt. Blend until smooth. Add more water a tablespoon at a time until you get a thick but pourable constancy.

Now rough chop the kale and toss together with the arugula and place in a large salad bowl

Place the sweet potato steaks on top of the greens. Note here that the sweet potato steaks can be hot, warm, or cold. The are good all the ways.

Then top it all with the pea avocado cream. Toss on the toasted walnuts and add some more black pepper and that be that. Grab a fork and a knife if you wish and get to it.

So much goodness in the mouth!

-C

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Sweet Potato Steaks on Arugula and Kale with Pea Avocado Cream

serves 1-2

• 1 medium sweet potato

• 1/2 cup frozen (and thawed) green peas

• 1/2 of an avocado

• a small lemon

• 2 large handfuls of fresh arugula

• 4-5 leaves of tender kale

• 1/4 cup toasted walnuts

• around 1/4 cup cold water

• salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 450. Wash sweet potato and cut into 4-5 equal thickness slices. Place cut pieces on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper and pop into oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping after 15 or until the sweet potato is tender. Remove from oven and let cool a bit.

While sweet potato is baking off, make pea avocado cream. Place the peas and avocado into a blender or cup if using a hand blender, add in the juice of the lemon and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth. Add in a tablespoon or two (or more) to thin out until it is still thick but pourable. Also rough chop the kale and mix together with the arugula in a big salad bowl.

Once sweet potato steaks have baked and cooled off a little bit (you can eat them hot or cold so whatever temperature you want), place them on top of the greens then top with the pea avocado cream, sprinkle on toasted walnuts, more black pepper, and maybe a squeeze of more lemon if you have it.

Then grab a fork and knife and start eating.