thai carrot ginger soup

I made this last night, and it's my new favorite soup. Topping it off with fresh radish sprouts made this root puree feel fresh and springy, too. I didn't measure, but I'll share with you the ingredients and steps to try to concoct something similar yourself. Because you have to! It's just so good!

• 6 large carrots chopped
• water to cover carrots
• olive oil
• two cloves of garlic pressed
• nub of fresh ginger chopped
• sea salt
• thai red curry paste (maybe a teaspoonful)
• splash of apple cider vinegar
• dash or two of cumin

Saute ginger and garlic in olive oil. Add carrots and water and salt. Cook until soft. Transfer to a blender and add the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth. Taste and determine if you want to add a little this or that. Serve with freshly ground pepper and radish sprouts. So simple, but so delicious!

Be strong- eat for power!

"The act of healing will look different for each of us. There is no need to rush—nor a clear timetable for traveling through the unique terrain of each loss. Death of a loved one, a traumatic life event, or deep heartbreak are all wounds that have the potential never to leave us. The scars remain to remind us of what we’ve felt, whom we’ve loved, and how we’ve grown. They become part of the fabric of our lives.

I sew. A lot. The metaphors that surround needle and thread seep into my thoughts often. The British proverb “A stitch in time saves nine” is a favorite. The meaning is simple: sew up a little hole with one stitch now so that it doesn’t expand and turn into something greater that may need nine or more stitches. It’s a saying that refers to doing things well the first time and not putting something off until later. Healing well from the start is an unhurried and deliberate mending. The frayed and broken fibers of our stories can almost always be woven back together, but how we choose to repair and patch ourselves up determines quite a bit. A quick fix is sure to leave you weak for unraveling. This is true in the literal sense, such as stitching up a hole in a seam. Why wouldn’t it also be true for our souls?

I believe that taking supremely good care of yourself will strengthen every muscle— including your heart. You’ll be ready for that moment..."

This is an excerpt from Hope, Make Heal currently featured in Spirituality & Health.  Click here to read the entire article and how green smoothies were a life-saver, plus get the recipe for this favorite of mine.

santa cookies

 I love that we had all the ingredients for these cookies in the cupboard. My kids love an addition of crushed candy canes to everything this time of year, and I do believe that it elevated them to the perfect treat to leave out for Santa tonight.

I hope you have a wonderful few days filled with love and sweets and joy!

apples: picking and baking

There's nothing quite as spectacular as picking apples on a beautiful fall day. We're so lucky to be surrounded by farms and orchards. I take advantage of our proximity with lots of little trips for a peck here and a peck there, but yesterday was autumn perfection. The sky was deep blue, the air was crisp, but the sun still kept you warm. The fragrance of ripe apples and wet grass makes every picking experience throughout the years be part of the present moment too.  As I called my over 6 ft tall son to help me reach for the high ones, I couldn't help remembering his tiny toddler hands grasped around fruit on the bottom branches. Scents do that to me… connect traditions into one continuous strand of memories. 

I've got fall baking fever and a daughter who's growing like crazy, so I'm certain these will be on this week's menu:

buttermilk apple cinnamon muffins  

my grandma's one bowl apple cake

apple gingerbread (who's that tiny girl in this post from the past?)

Happy Monday, sweet friends!

baskets, blues and birthdays

Just a quick hello and warm welcome to anyone visiting from Amanda's today. If you've caught the rope stitching bug… rest assured that the contagion only leads to happy making and grateful receiving of beautiful baskets. I thought I'd leave a few links here to remind you of previous posts and to give you some inspiration:

here

here

here

 I'll be teaching a new rope basket workshop at Craftstitute at the end of October. Stay tuned for the exact date and time!

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I'm currently up to my ears in chocolate frosting and blues that aren't just made from indigo but the kind of weepy mama emotions that come from watching our children grow. Today my first born turns seventeen and it's brought all kinds of feelings to the surface. Luckily our favorite deep dark chocolate cake will soon soothe my tender heart!

pickled

Quick pickles are the perfect addition to summer fare. They also make a great snack with a chunk of crusty bread. My mom often makes these Zuni Zukes. I grew up going to the Zuni Cafe in SF for special occasions, so I love when she brings a bit of home all the way to the east coast. Here's the recipe. I prefer how thin she slices them, but it's not a requirement. The pickled red onions are from a recipe from The Kitchn and are so good on just about any sandwich!  Do you have a favorite quick pickle?

birds, trees and toast

The above "indigo" bunting was dyed and hand stitched by a 10 year old who had never sewn before, but had a burning desire to make a bird. Amazing right?! Thread and needle were not going to be part of the first week of camp, but everyone got the itch to work with their beautiful blue fabric. Next week the entire focus is sewing and a bit of weaving. I'm fired up and ready for teaching some brand new projects- like this nature weaving in a Y stick.

I'm also trying to figure out if there is any way we can use parts of the giant white pine that landed on our barn/garage earlier this week in a freak storm. It was quite traumatic, since my daughter and I were standing at the back door watching the rain pour down and the winds pick up when it came crashing down a few feet away. We were extremely lucky, and now are looking for ways to celebrate such a special tree that we looked at each day from our dining room window for the last 14 years. 

An hour after it fell, the sun had returned and the mail carrier drove up with my copy of Pixie Lighthorse's brand new book- Prayers of Honoring. The timing couldn't have been more perfect, as there was a blessing called "Honoring the Forces of Nature" on page 33. Pixie's wisdom has been a guiding force in my life since the first day we met and it's wonderful to have a volume of her words to reach for when looking for meaning and ways to recognize important moments in life. 

 And now it's time to start the weekend with my current favorite meal- avocado toast. I love it for breakfast, lunch or dinner! I know it's the current urban trend, but there's a reason- perfect deliciousness! There are so many variations- but they all start with a good piece of bread and a ripe avo. This is actually gluten-free- but I am eating wheat again now and then.  I take a sliver of garlic and rub it over the warm toast. A little drizzle of olive oil comes next. Mash avocado directly onto toast and layer it with whatever's on hand. Heirloom tomatoes here, but the other day it was topped with shaved radishes, and goat cheese. Finish it up with coarse salt and fresh pepper.

Have a super weekend, friends!

berry fudgsicles

 These are a so easy… especially since I didn't make them! Perfect job for younger chefs. We have a local dairy that sells chocolate milk at our co-op (Hillcrest). My kids are always eyeing it longingly. Pouring it in a popsicle mold with fresh berries made me say yes this time. This is my favorite popsicle mold ever- you can get it here.

 Begin with fresh berries… it's the last week of strawberries around here so this is a great way to celebrate them.

 Then pour in a thick and rich chocolate milk. Local is nice… but I know we're lucky.

Freeze and wait… the hardest part!

So much fun food this time of year!

Monday- bacon and blossoms

 I didn't look at my sewing machine this entire weekend! I had hungry boys to feed, flowers to plant, and creeks to swim in. And now… I will sew!

But before I "spiral" away… you must know how excited my crew is about finally trying bacon and egg "muffins". We've been all wanting to make them for ages, so Mother's Day seemed a great excuse. Anything with bacon is a winner in my book! They were the rage on Pinterest a while back, but I didn't follow any specific recipe yesterday… just made it up in my typical winging it way. Here's what we did for a dozen "muffins":

1. Preheated the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Whisked 10 eggs with salt, pepper, chopped fresh chives, a handful of grated cheddar and a spoonful of parmesan.
3. Brushed each cup of a muffing tin with olive oil.
4. Lay a piece of uncooked bacon around the walls of each cup.
5. Poured the egg mixture into the center of each cup.
6. Baked for 15-20 minutes until the bacon was crispy and eggs were fluffy.
7. Devoured!

These will be on repeat for sure. Especially nice on a Sundays since the leftovers would make an easy Monday breakfast. If there are leftovers!

So happy Monday, my friends!  I'll leave you with some pretty pics of my bleeding hearts that are peaking right now. They're truly one of the most poetic and beautiful flowers ever. Can't believe I've never pressed and saved them before. 

Today I will!

nesting

More snow and continued bitter cold is in the forecast. Perfect nesting weather, that's keeping me in cooking, baking, making mode- it's my happy space for the holidays. Soups, muffins, cookies, sewing, carving stamps... They are all happening simultaneously these days!

While in DC over the weekend, I had the most exquisite lunch at the National Art Gallery... felt like a feast from a French country farmhouse- you can find a link to the buffet menu here. I essentially want to just duplicate it for our Thanksgiving dinner. As I was savoring the Pumpkin Bisque, I was trying to figure out the ingredients to repeat it at home... and at the end of the meal they brought complimentary recipe cards to our table. What a sweet surprise to have it handed to me. Here it is for you too! I was thinking- what a great Thanksgiving idea. If you are making/baking something very special- why not print it up the recipe ahead of time to hand out to your guests at they leave- or the host if you are bringing your contribution elsewhere. Perhaps you've already done this or maybe thought of it- but since I hadn't, a reminder to all of you brilliant friends out there can't hurt!

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These are now my go-to pumpkin muffins for my family. And all the kids that frequent our home. I use this recipe from smitten kitchen, but substitute butter for oil, use 1/4 cup less sugar, and add these chocolate chunks and cranberries. We've been watching the Cupcake Wars on Netflix recently... and are inspired to frost EVERYTHING, even muffins. Maybe a honey cream cheese frosting with a sliver of candied ginger- yes? YES!

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The second issue of Mabel arrived in my mailbox, and I enjoyed it last night with a glass of wine and set aside a moment this morning with tea. Perfect by the fire reading-  it's a decadent dessert and comfort food all rolled into one. So proud of my talented friends who have created such a fabulous new edition to the (printed) publishing world... and excited for all of the creative contributors to have a new platform to showcase their work and share their voice. Hello to cover art by my girl- Pixie Lighthorse!

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And this is a sneak peek at a new project I'm working on... the process and testing of new stamps (for something special) is always exciting!

Sending you wishes for cozy and creative days ahead...

buttermilk apple cinnamon muffins

I know it's going to be a good day when it begins with batch of muffins. The house smells terrific, and it takes care of both breakfast and snacking for my kids throughout the day. We pass Indian Creek Orchard every day to go home, so there is no shortage of apples in our house this time of year. With some leftover buttermilk in the fridge,  I decided to try it in my usual muffin batter... I think streusel would be the perfect addition next time. Which will probably be tomorrow, since they didn't even last an entire day! And I don't eat wheat- so that's just kid eating going on!

BUTTERMILK APPLE CINNAMON MUFFINS

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

2 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of salt

3/4 cup of brown sugar or maple syrup

2 eggs lightly beaten

1/3 cup of melted butter

1 1/3 cup of buttermilk

1 large apple cored and diced (no need to peel)

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 tablespoon of sugar for top or batch of streusel

Make:

-Preheat over to 375 degrees

-Mix dry and wet ingredients separately and then combine just till mixed

-Add apples at the end

-Pour into a well-greased muffin pan 

-Top with sugar or streusel and bake until golden

breakfast for one

 My nest is empty today, as both children head off to do their own work of growing and learning. It's quiet. The dishes are done, beds made and laundry rolling. I've been writing all morning. My book is in the final homestretch, and I'm reveling in the unfamiliar productivity of daytime hours. My favorite part of this morning was breakfast. I didn't eat until two other breakfasts, lunch-making, a school bus and long car ride had passed. But when I opened the refrigerator and asked myself what I wanted... mmmm that was FUN! And delicious...

Really, a fried egg makes everything better! I placed one on a warm tortilla and topped it off with homemade salsa verde (tomatillos are in season up here!), roasted sungolds tomatoes and grated locatelli cheese. It was simply divine! I think I'll do it again tomorrow!

July Cucumber Coolers

Nothing quite like a warm summer evening and refreshing drink on my mom's deck. I don't drink many cocktails and by no means am an expert at mixing them- however this was a winner. And has been on repeat mode. It seems to spell J*U*L*Y*!

It's hard to go wrong with cucumbers, mint and lime!

I used this recipe with simple syrup instead of sugar, but stirred (vigorously) instead of using a shaker... 

Salud!

radishes

Favorite summer breakfast: thinly sliced radishes on buttered (gluten-free for me) toast. Sprinkle on some course sea salt and freshly ground pepper... delicious and delightful!

edible

I grew up in a city. Eating weeds and flowers wasn't recommended. That all changed when I moved to our land. I love discovering what's edible right outside my back door. Everything from dandelions greens to pansies are incorporated into our meals. I get so excited each spring when I can start eating flowers again! How can you not feel like a fairy princess when your food is decorated with pretty petals?

I've  planted 4 different lilac bushes over the years and look forward to their intoxicating fragrance each May, but I didn't know until last night that I could eat them! Thanks to my California cousin on instagram, I am sprinkling them on everything- thanks Willow!

Here are some of my other favorite edible flowers:

1. dandelions
2. lavender
3. violets
4. pansies
5. chive blossoms
6. marigolds
7. nasturtiums
8. bee balm
9. borage
10. sweet rocket

Do you eat flowers? What are your favorites?

magic moons and stars

Simple sugar cookies. Frozen leftover dough from Christmas. Stars and moons. Semi- spontaneous. Grandma's love. 

That last bit... that's why I'm blogging this.  My mother made extra cookie dough around the holidays. We froze it and saved it for a rainy day... or more accurately- a snow day! Yesterday, was the perfect time to pre-heat the oven. We felt my mom with us as the scent of baking stars and moons filled the kitchen. They were eaten with reverence and nostalgia and a little invocation of grandmotherly love. I think it will be a new tradition, and I thought that all of you out there with families flung far and wide might appreciate it too. Bake (or make) a little something extra during family visits to be frozen for a future day. What a sweet and ceremonious way to eat a batch of cookies!

kitchen tech and snickerdoodles

There was a recent request for snickerdoodles. I've baked dozens of varieties of cookies in my lifetime, but never these. A bit of googling and I decided on this recipe from the kitchn. It was easy and my cookie testers gave it an enthusiastic YUM!  

So here's the thing... I have a wonderful library of cookbooks. I inherited my mother's passion for collecting them. But I've stopped using them for cooking and baking. I still pour through them for inspiration, but I find that 95% of the time I use my iPad and do a search for what I'm looking for. I read comments and reviews and then pick the recipe that appeals to me most. I am not complaining, merely reflecting on how cooking has changed with technology. In talking to my friends (and my mom the cookbook queen), I've discovered that I'm not alone... many of us are doing this. How about you? I'm curious- do you google recipes and ingredients... or do you prefer leafing through pages? 

December

 Happy December! We said goodbye to November and ushered in this magical month with plenty of snow, good food and wonderful friends. I hosted my first Thanksgiving in over 13 years... it was impromptu, no less! One of the highlights was my favorite holiday cake: Pear Pecan Ginger Upside Down Cake. Oh yes!

I'm sending out the recipe in a long overdue Maya*Mail later this week. It's something your oven should be baking!

And now it's time to embrace the wild ride of the holiday season. What better way then to jump on the back of a sweet Dala horse and gallop into December. I created this new stamp to use for our advent activities. Since I have a "horse crazy girl" it seems kind of perfect.

 It's tiny, so it belongs in the Little Print Series. 

Have a great start to your week , as we say hello to the last month of 2013!

comfort

Yesterday was wet and windy. Comfort food was in order. Something familiar and soothing. Chocolate tapioca pudding it was. I used this Bob's Red Mill recipe for the first time and added a little cocoa. So darn good! My grandmother always taught me that serving small portions in tiny ramekins makes something sweet last slightly longer. Only slightly. It was just so fun to say "Sure!" when they asked for seconds.  Doubling the recipe next time. 

Happy Monday!