Somewhat Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup pb
1 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
11/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups whole wheat flour

oven at 350

Recipe says that cookies made from honey burn easily so watch them carefully...

bake 10-12 min

I feel guilty

This is what I feel guilty about:

1. Using excessive amounts of plastic (especially beverage containers that I use once and then throw away).

2. The homeless people on the street that I don't give enough/any money to, or even smile at.

3. Driving!

4. Not calling/visiting my Dad more often.

5. Buying a meditation cushion and never using it to meditate.

6. Not being nicer, more respectful, or patient with my Mom.

7. Not playing with my dog enough.

8. Being neglectful of my childhood pet bunnies.

9. Accidentally "boiling" my pet tropical fish when I was a kid, and unknowingly turned the heater up too high.

10. All of the animal suffering I cause by eating eggs and dairy, and all of the previous animal suffering I caused when I ate meat.

11. The rare, yet significant times when I don't recycle.

12. Not spending enough time petting and loving on my cat.

13. The food that I end up wasting because I don't get a chance to eat it fast enough.

14. Not saving more of my paycheck.

15. The times when I have lied, particularly to my parents.

In celebration of my 30th birhday (yes two moths later)...

The top 30 blessings, people and resources who have come into my life and most inspired me into a more blissful and enjoyable journey here since my birth on Earth:

1. Macie
2. Each and every one of my special, unique, beautiful friends (I don't want to run the risk of playing favorites, or forgetting to list anyone, so let's just say that you know who you are, and thank you!).
3. Starfire/LAUMC/Dirk & Carol Damonte
4. Groovelily
5. Ballroom/Social/Vintage Dance
6. Stinson Beach
7. Dar Williams
8. Animals
9. Santa Clara University
10. Soul Collages
11. The Story of Stuff
12. Nature/Field Journaling
13. Composting
14. Natural Swimming Holes
15. Grandma Shirley
16. Bikes
17. Crossroads (hurrah for recycled clothing)
18. My Little Ponies (and spending HOURS playing them with Agnes).
19. Home/School/Community gardens
20. No Impact Man
21. Kris Carr
22. NPR
23. EnviroWoman
24. Mindfulness Class (as taught by Shaylin Ebert)
25. Dirty Dancing
26. Kate Goldwater (Double hurrah for recycled clothing made by the coolest person ever!)
27. vegetarianism (and the Monterey Bay Aquarium for making me finally give up eating fish.)
28. Punky Brewster (My childhood idol)
29. Dharma & Greg (My adult idol)
30. Summer Spaghetti

David's Delicious Kale Salad

Thanks David for this awesome recipe! I can feel my body and soul thanking me with every bite!

2 bunches of stripped, hand shredded kale
1/4 cup (or more) of olive oil (enough to cover the kale with)

massage the kale in oil until tender (this takes a lot longer than I originally realized)

add the juice of two lemons, two chunked avocados, some kalamata olives, 4 (or more) diced cloves of garlic
.

I also added to the recipe some salt, cayenne pepper, and some diced sage.

So incredible! I could eat this every day for the rest of my life! mmmmmm.....

Raw/Vegan Ice "Cream" Elixir

Hello YUM!
This recipe was adapted from the original recipe (shown below). Many of these ingredients can be found in the "raw" food section of Whole Foods:

1.5 trays of ice cubes
Several large heaps of cocoa powder
(3 Tbsp lucuma powder) -I didn't use this this time
1 Tbsp mesquite powder
1 tsp maca
½ tsp vanilla
1/16th tsp stevia powder
some cinnamon powder
some nutmeg powder
1 spoonful of essential greens powder
2 tablespoons Raw Almond Butter
½ cup water

Blend everything together in a high–speed blender and ENJOY :)


The following recipe was created by Angela and Matt Monarch:
1.5 trays of ice cubes
3 Tbsp lucuma powder
1 Tbsp mesquite powder
1 tsp maca
½ tsp vanilla powder
1/16th tsp stevia powder
1 Tbsp Vitamineral Earth
½ tsp cardamom powder
½ tsp cinnamon powder
few drops of Icelandic Nature Essences
5 drops pau d’arco liquid
7 drops immune boosting liquid
3 drops raspberry fruit extract
2 Tbsp Go! Almond Butter
½ cup water
pinch of Himalayan crystal salt

Blend everything together in a high–speed blender and ENJOY :)

Recipe taken from the very awesome Raw Reform website.

Cathy's Butternut Squash and Tofu Thai Curry- Yummers!

2 lb of butternut squash
1 large bunch of broccoli
1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
1 package of extra firm tofu
1 yellow onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 inch of fresh ginger
1 dried or fresh chili pepper
2 inches of fresh lemon grass
several leaves of fresh kaffir lime (if you can find them!)
I can light coconut milk
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoon sugar
soy sauce or water as needed


garnish:
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons salted peanuts, chopped

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 450F. Slice the tofu and squash into small rectangles and bake until tofu is golden brown, or until you can't stand it anymore.

While baking the tofu and squash, combine ginger, garlic, onion, thinly sliced lemon grass, and chili pepper with enough water to blend. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and saute this spicy mixture for 10 minutes.

Add the spices and continue to saute for 5-8 mins (add water as necessary to prevent burning).

Add butternut squash and tofu. Saute under med-low heat for 10 mins adding water/soy sauce as necessary. Then add the broccoli and peppers and saute for 5 mins or until al dente. Turn down heat to low.

Combine the coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves, sugar and salt. Add to the pan. Cook for a few minutes and remove from heat.

Serve over jasmine rice or any other grain of your choice.

A way to use up the leftover bread from my b-day party...

Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

Ingredients:

* 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
* 1 cup fat-free milk
* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
* 1/2 cup egg substitute or 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 5 cups cubed day-old bread
* 1/2 cup chopped peeled apple (about 1 apple)



Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, milk, brown sugar, egg substitute, vanilla and cinnamon. Fold in bread cubes and apple.
Pour into an 8-in. square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Serve warm over whipped topping, OR vanilla ice-cream, OR TJs new tart frozen yoghurt. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 8 servings. This recipe can be doubled nicely.


Recipe and photo taken from http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Caramel-Apple-Bread-Pudding

Strawberry and Grilled Tofu Salad

From executive chef Scott Garrett - at LA hotel Avalon's Blue on Blue restaurant (Serves 4)

Ingredients:
(local and organic whenever possible)

* 12 oz tofu, marinated in lemon juice and oil
* Salt and cracked black pepper
* 1 pt fresh strawberries
* 1 sprig basil
* 1/2 pt plain yogurt
* 2 heads Bibb lettuce
* 4 oz chickpeas
* 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
* 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
* 2 oz walnuts


Directions:

Start by seasoning your tofu with salt and pepper, then grill. When done, set aside. Over low heat, combine strawberries (minus the stems and leaves) and basil in a small sauce pot with a little water. Reduce mixture by 1/3, and then remove from heat. When cool, add the yogurt and black pepper to taste, and puree. Cut off the core of the bib lettuce, separate the leaves, and place them into a mixing bowl. Add the chickpeas, ricotta, red onion, walnuts, and strawberries (depending on size, cut however you like). Add a small amount of the reduction and toss well. Slice the tofu, and add to the top of the salad.

Starting my own business?

Hi Friends! I am calling on your support, please. My Mom came to me this weekend with the terrific idea of starting my own business. The current idea is to have a business where I could go to people's houses and help them start gardens with and for their kids. I would help them get everything designed, planted, and ready with their kids. After that they would be in charge of maintaining their garden unless they wanted to pay for further consultation (but I wouldn't want to be their regular gardener).

A fun addition that I was was thinking about was that plant a theme gardens in addition to/instead regular vegetable or flower gardens. Potential theme gardens include: fairy garden, animal/zoo garden, Native American garden, A-Z garden, 6-plant part burrito garden, fort garden, etc. Any other theme ideas?

Also, I am hoping that you can help me with a name for my business/domain name. I really like the idea of "Let's Get Growing" as a business name. That name is not, however, available for a website domain name. Here are some potential website domain names that seem to be available:

gardeneducation.com
enchantinggardens.org
organicgardeneducation.com
kidgardens.net/org
organickidgardens.com
getgrowingorganic.com
getgrowingorganic.com

If you have ideas for a domain name you can test its availability here: http://instantdomainsearch.com/

Also, here is a template that I was thinking of for my website here. What do you think? Is it too childish and not professional enough?

I am completely open, and thankful for any suggestions for the name, website name, website organization, business idea, etc. of my potential future business.

THANK YOU!!!
xoxox

psychological spring cleaning...

As I prepare for the big 3-0 (!) I am trying to make it an emotional, spiritual, physical rebirth/celebration time, blah blah blah. I like this, and you might too:
http://crazysexylife.com/2009/start-your-psychological-spring-cleaning/

Mom's Noodle Salad with Spicy Peanut Butter Dressing

Dressing (wisk/blend together the following):
6 tablespoons peanut butter
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 cup broth
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1.5 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon minced ginger
some garlic
1/2 teaspoon cayenne

Cook: 8 oz. whole wheat linguine, and then cool with water

Cut veggies:
(chop like matchsticks) orange/red bell pepper and carrots
shredded cabbage
1/2 cup chopped green onions

For garnish: 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and 1/4 cup chopped peanuts

I want this...and I want it NOW!

Only 19 baking days left until my birthday...if you catch my hint...

Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Pillows
makes 2 dozen cookies

Chocolate dough:
1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
3 tablespoons non-dairy milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened dutch processed cocoa powder
2 tablespoons black unsweetened cocoa or more dutch processed unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling:
3/4 cup natural salted peanut butter, crunchy or creamy style
2/3 cup confectioner’s sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons soy creamer or non-dairy milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl combine oil, sugar, maple syrup, non-dairy milk and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Sift in flour, cocoa powder, black cocoa if using, baking soda and salt. Mix to form a moist dough.

Make the filling. In another mixing bowl beat together peanut butter, confectioner’s sugar, 2 tablespoons of soy creamer and vanilla extract to form a moist but firm dough. If peanut butter dough is too dry (as different natural peanut butters have different moisture content), stir in remaining tablespoon of non-dairy milk. If dough is too wet knead in a little extra powdered sugar.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Shape the cookies. Create the centers of the cookies by rolling the peanut butter dough into 24 balls. Scoop a generous tablespoon of chocolate dough, flatten into a disc and place a peanut butter ball in the center. Fold the sides of the chocolate dough up and around the peanut butter center and roll the chocolate ball into an smooth ball between your palms. Place on a sheet of waxed paper and repeat with remaining doughs. If desired gently flatten cookies a little, but this is not necessary.

Place dough balls on lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart and bake for 10 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and let cookies for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to complete cooling. Store cookies in tightly covered container. If desired warm cookies in a microwave for 10 to 12 seconds before serving.

Photo and recipe from: http://theppk.com/blog/2009/03/30/peanut-butter-pillows/

Lacey's Funny, Yummy Bread!

I don't know how she does it, but she is a genius! Lacey can make unbelievably delicious, crunchy-crusted (how often does this happen in homemade bread?), fabulous bread! This recipe is originally from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Hertzberg & Francois.

The idea is to make a wet dough (no kneading!), keep it in the refrigerator, and bake hunks of it whenever you want fresh bread – whee! Makes four 1-pound loaves.


3 c. lukewarm water

1 1/2 T yeast

2 to 2 1/2 tsp. salt (play with it – recipe called for 1 1/2 T, waaaay too salty!

6 1/2 c. flour (I used about 3 c. whole wheat and 3 c. bread flour, but you can play with it)

Put yeast and salt into warm water.

Mix in flour.

Let sit 2 hours.

Cover & refrigerate.


When you want a loaf….
Dust surface of dough with flour, pull up and cut off a grapefruit-sized hunk to bake.
Dust hunk with more flour, pull edges around to form a loaf. Place loaf on baking tray.
Rise 20 minutes while preheating the oven to 450° with an oven-safe skillet of water in the bottom of the oven for steam.
Dust loaf with flour, slash with a sharp knife.
Bake 25-35 minutes (depending on size of loaf). Make sure the water doesn’t run out!


Store remaining dough (covered) in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The flavor will change and become more sour over time.

The coolest library website in the world!

Thank you to Lacey, Ryan, and Graham for all coming through and helping me re-find this website. Now that it is found I want EVERYONE to know about it:

Last year while I was searching for a very rare book at various libraries (if you want to know what book it was please ask me -totally hilarious story!) I ran across this website where you can type any book (or any kind of media) and your zipcode (actually the computer already knows your zipcode- scary!) into it's search bar and it will list every library in the COUNTRY (or even possibly the world -hence the name?) that has that book starting with the one that is closest to you. It will also tell you if the book is available, and you can set up an inter-library loan through the website (I may be mistaken about this last part).

I LOVE this website, and here it is: World Cat: http://www.worldcat.org/


Photo credit: http://www.artsjournal.com/bookdaddy/2008/07/

Vegetarian "Meat"loaf

I think that I am going to try this recipe tomorrow...

Ingredients

* 2 cups water
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup lentils
* 1 small onion, diced
* 1 cup quick-cooking oats
* 3/4 cup grated cheese (cheddar, swiss, jack or American)
* 1 egg, beaten
* 4 1/2 ounces spaghetti sauce or tomato sauce
* 1 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1 teaspoon dried basil
* 1 tablespoon dried parsley
* 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

1.Add salt to water and boil in a saucepan.
2.Add lentils and simmer covered 25-30 minutes, until lentils are soft and most of water is evaporated.
3.Remove from fire.
4.Drain and partially mash lentils.
5.Scrape into mixing bowl and allow to cool slightly.
6.Stir in onion, oats and cheese until mixed.
7.Add egg, tomato sauce, garlic, basil, parsley, seasoning salt and pepper.
8.Mix well.
9.Spoon into loaf pan that has been generously sprayed with Pam (non-stick cooking spray) or well-greased.
10.Smooth top with back of spoon.
11.Bake at 350 degrees for 30- 45 minutes until top of loaf is dry, firm and golden brown.
12.Cool in pan on rack for about 10 minutes.
13.Run a sharp knife around edges of pan then turn out loaf onto serving platter.

Recipe taken from http://www.recipezaar.com/Really-Good-Vegetarian-Meatloaf-really-33921

THE violin has arrived!

We are in the process of trying to name it. Some ideas that come to mind: Velvet (or Velvet Vigoda), Phoenix, Philana. Any other suggestions of supremely awesome girl names are encouraged! We are looking for a name that represents the femininity, yet total fiery-strength and wonderful-uniqueness of this instrument, and the woman who previously owned her! Ideas?

P.S. I tried to upload a video of the violin being played by Graham, but it failed. Hopefully soon you will get to see the video!

The Baby Chick Story

I love this story with every little chamber of my heart. It is a true Mother's Day story, and has been on my mind all weekend. I hope that you enjoy it and pass it on too. Lacey and I went to visit our friend Jim and his girlfriend, Linda, in Santa Cruz this past Saturday. Jim and Linda had recently been to Hawaii and Jim told us of this amazing story from his trip:

One day when Linda and Jim were at the beach there were some chickens also running around the beach. One of the hens laid an egg on the towel of another beach goer. Jim immediately picked up the egg exclaiming that it was probably going to taste wonderful! Linda snatched the egg from his hand retorting, "Like hell you will," and promptly placed the egg safely into her bra. She kept the egg there for the three remaining days of their trip, through the agricultural inspection at the airport, and back home to Santa Cruz until she could purchase a real incubator for the egg.

The egg sat in the incubator for several weeks until Jim was able to convinced Linda that they would throw out the egg on Sunday, if the chick had not hatched. Saturday morning they came home to a broken eggshell in the incubator, but no chicken. Of course they were confused until they found that the chick had fallen out of the incubator, off of the dresser that the incubator was on, and into the trash can next to the dresser. Fortunately the trash can was full and made soft landing!

The chick is healthy and well, and SO cute. It is also VERY, overwhelmingly sweet! It gets sad when it can't be sitting/sleeping in your arms, or on your shoulder. I got to hold and enjoy this little, beautiful miracle! I am also hoping that Jim will let me have her! I think that a hen would go nicely with the rest of my zoo (please note the sarcasm in my voice).

Happy Mother's Day!

I made this soup with a ton of extra, raw garlic in it for my sick mommy today:
http://charkness.blogspot.com/2007/09/delicious-late-summer-harvest-soup.html

I love it! So simple, yet so awesome! I was walking around the farmer's market today with Graham, in need of some divine inspiration of what soup to make for my mommy, until finally the voice of the luscious zucchini and corn called to me and let me remember this recipe. Brilliant!

I must remember to get some cherries next time I go to the farmer's market though. They will only be around for the next month.

I just also want to note what a great weekend it's been (such a nice end to a very challenging work week)!

Big Dance, Lacey, THE violin, seeing our old friend Jim in Santa Cruz, old college friends, kambucha on tap, the baby chick story (everyone and anyone MUST come ask me about this story!), delicious zucchini/basil soup, beautiful farmer's market produce, Ananda, swing dancing to live music at the farmer's market, Macie, my birthday present earrings from Lacey, new friends, feeling like me again!

Thank you to my fans out there!

I just recently discovered that I had several unmoderated comments for some previous blog posts. Which means that I have friends who read my blog!! Yeah! I didn't think that anyone could find these mind-dribble ramblings, let alone be interested enough in them to leave a comment. Thanks to all my friends who read this site. I love each and every one (or two) of you!

इन सर्च ऑफ़ अ न्यू नतुरे नामे...

First of all, let me just start by saying that something is wrong with Blogger (because it couldn't possibly be user error!). When I try to type in my blog post title the words come up/get translated(?) into a bizarre language which resembles Farsi. Okay, whatever! If anyone out there in the blogosphere knows what's wrong please fill me in.

Okay, and now onto the real reason for the post: I am thinking of giving myself a new nature name for work. I'm looking for something that is beautiful and sweet, representational of me, and can stand alone as a name without "Cathy" next to it. Also, I'm looking for something that's not too cutesey-pootsey. Here are some ponderings:

Summer
Heron
Feather
Fern
Sierra
Skye
Sunshine
Cheyenne
Kai (ocean)
Poppy
Ginger (my Mom's name. humm...)
Aspen
Kamala (born of the lotus)
Kamalah (lotus)
Leilani (heavenly flower)
Coral
Orion
Kamaya/Kamea (precious one)
Elyse
Willow
Calanthia (beautiful flower)
Daisy
Butterfly
Ladybug
Coyote ??

Or perhaps this is just a list of names that I like. None of them seem to suit me. Any suggestions from the peanut gallery?

Ali’s Sacred (yum-yum) Monkey Cookies

Taken from "Crazy Sexy Life" http://crazysexylife.com/category/recipes/

I wonder if I could bake them on a low heat instead of use the dehydrator that I don't have. Boy, do I love cookies!!!

Ingredients:
2 cups almonds blended to almond flour
1/4 cup or 3 tbs maple syrup (or whatever amount/sweetener you prefer)
1/2 bag of the sunsweet vegan carob chips
3 big mashed bananas (ready to peel, but not brown-ripe)
A dash of vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Mush the bananas in a large mixing bowl
2. Mix in the maple syrup & dash in the vanilla extract
3. Combine this with the 2 cups of fresh almond flour
4. Mix 1/2 (+) bag of sunsweet vegan carob chips-the mixture should be moist, but shouldn’t be runny.
5. Place spoonfuls of mix onto dehydrator trays lined with teflex sheets. Flatten to about 1/2 inch tall, round “cookie shape.”
6. Dehydrate at 100 degrees for about 8-12 hours* - or until the cookies can be peeled off the sheets and maintain their form. they will be moist and gooey, and are super yummy straight out of the dehydrator.
(*may take less time with an excalibur dehydrator. I have a Nesco - takes 10-12 hrs.)
Store in the fridge:)

Read this...

http://crazysexylife.com/2009/i-hold-a-space-for-love/


If anyone else in the world besides me reads this blog, then you should read this!

Making Love in the Kitchen

must try it sometime soon...

http://meghantelpnerblog.com/2009/03/16/breadless-bread/

2 1/2 cups whole raw almonds
1/4 cup arrowroot starch (can use potato if preferred)
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 large eggs
1/2 cup yogurt (sheep or goat recommended)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp Agave (can also use honey, or maple syrup- optional)
1/ 4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup chia seeds
2 TBS sesame seeds (sprinkled on top)
1 Tsp rock salt (sprinkled on top)

* Preheat the oven to 325.
* Grease and dust a loaf pan (I used coconut oil and rice flour).
* Grind almonds in a food processor or coffee grinder until in a fine meal
* Sift together starch, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix in with almond meal, and additional seeds.
* In a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients- eggs, yogurt, oil, agave.
* Mix wet and dry together until there are no lumps, but don’t over-mix.
* Pour into the pan and smooth the top.
* Sprinkle with sesame seeds and rock salt.
* Bake for about 45-50 minutes - it will be ready when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and feel firm when you press down.
* Allow bread to sit for about 5 minutes before removing it to a cooling rack.
* Best stored, wrapped in the fridge.

**photo credit: http://greenasathistle.com/2009/04/10/boyfriend-bread/ **

Mom's (well actually Rachel Ray's) Yummy Easter Pasta!

Ingredients

* Salt
* 1 pound penne rigate pasta
* 4 cups (packed) baby spinach, divided
* 1/4 cup shelled pistachios or whole almonds, toasted
* 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock
* 1/3 to 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, plus more for garnish
* A few grates fresh nutmeg
* Zest of 1 lemon, juice of 1/2
* Ground black pepper
* 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
* 1 pound fresh or frozen artichoke hearts (defrosted, if frozen)
* 2 to 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
* 1/2 cup white wine



Place a large pot of water over high heat to boil. When the water reaches a bubble, salt it and drop the pasta. Cook just shy of al dente according to package directions. Just before draining, reserve a large mugful of the starchy cooking water. Drain pasta and reserve
Step

While the pasta is cooking, combine half of the spinach, the nuts, stock, Parmigiano Reggiano, nutmeg, lemon zest and juice, some salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse the machine to chop everything up then stream in about 1/4 cup EVOO (eyeball it) with the machine running. Reserve.
Step

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Add the artichokes and garlic to the pan, and cook until slightly golden. Add the wine and cook until tender, 4-5 minutes.
Step

Add the pasta, pesto, reserved cooking water (about 1 cup) and remaining spinach to the pan and toss to combine and wilt the spinach, 2-3 minutes. Serve warm with an extra sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano.

Kevin's Tollhouse Cookie Recipe

* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (add a bit more or less flour to make the dough the consistency of a "wet, wrung-out sponge")
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
* 3/4 cup granulated sugar
* 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 large eggs
* 1 cups chocolate chips
* 1 cup M&Ms
* 1 cup chopped nuts

Bake 375 for 15 minutes.

Cassie's Curry is so YUMMY!!!

oil, garlic, onion, ginger (saute in a pot until it browns)
add a couple cups of veggie broth
add veggies (tomato, carrot, chard) and lentils
add spices: cumin, coriander, curry powder, cloves, turmeric, salt, pepper

Gabie the Genius!

I just found a piece of paper TODAY where I wrote down a quote from one of my first grade students from last year:

"Torque is when the shorter side of the (I can't remember what the object was) will fall down because the longer side is heavier."

What a genius!

Gezellig

I think that we all should have a some more of this in our lives. Here is what Gezellig is: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gezellig
I first heard about it on a radio commercial that was advertising Cost Plus as the place to buy everything you need for a winter gezellig at home with friends. Huummm... Random, but totally cool too!

My (not anymore) secret apple pie recipe...

I'm selling the cookbook this came out of, so I need to write down the recipe. I'm not giving much detail here on what to do, so it's up to you (yeah right, like anyone besides me reads this blog) to figure out how to put it all together...

6 apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

cook 50-60 minutes at 375.

Love does that sometimes...

The wisdom of a beautiful stranger at Esalen:

Him: "That looks like a labor of love."

Me: "Yes, it is, but right now it is making me angry. I am stuck and can't figure out what to do, so I am angry at it."

Him: "Well, love does that sometimes."

Me: "Oh, I guess you're right. I guess it does."

...perhaps I'll just sit with this anger and uncertainty, and wishing that I could make things perfect...

Pumpkin Pie Soup

Pumpkin Soup with Spiced Croutons
* Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens, Feb. 2009*

2 medium carrots, sliced
2 Tbsp. butter/oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
30 oz of pumpkin puree
32 oz of veggie stock/broth
1/2 cup half and half or light cream
3 Tbsp. maple syrup (I used a dash more)
1 tsp. pumpkin spice (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger)
1 recipe for spiced croutons, see below
Salt and pepper to taste

1) In large saucepan, cook carrots in hot butter over medium heat for 2 minutes; add onion, celery and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes or so until tender.

2) Stir pumpkin, broth, cream, syrup and spices in. Heat through. Season with salt and pepper.

3) To serve, top soup with croutons.


Serves 8.


Spiced croutons: In a bowl, toss 3 cups 1 inch bread cubes with 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice. In a large skillet, cook bread cubes in 2 Tbsp butter/oil for 8 minutes or until toasted, turning occasionally.

I'm in LOVE!!

On a whim I decided to make a detour on my way to Berkeley, and seek out Rainbow Grocery Store in San Francisco. I had been hearing about how wonderful this store is, and pining over its offerings for years now, and today, I finally got to experience this sustainable grocery Mecca. It was everything I could want in a store and more! Bulk isles as far as the eye can see; reusable glass, plastic, and cloth containers available to fill with as many bulk food items as my little pocketbook could afford; cool food items that I had never heard of and may never need; even bulk chips (oh yeah!). I love this place. So yeah, yeah, I know what you are thinking: all "hippie" food stores have a bulk isle -right? But Rainbow Grocery doesn't just have a bulk bin isle they have a whole store full of bulk bins, the bins at Rainbow are WAY more expansive and awesome than anything I could imagine, and they have SO many things that I have never seen before, and want to try!

So here it is, the top 10 list of reasons to LOVE (and shop at) Rainbow Grocery:

1. They have SO many bulk herbs and spices available. They even had Vietnamese cinnamon that is so spicy that it smelled like Big Red gum (A favorite of mine from childhood- I used to chew so many pieces at once that I would get huge, spicy headaches.)
2. Paper bag containers for the bulk spices (yeah plastic-free).
3. Reusable, durable containers (for purchase) for filling with bulk items, including the 1/2 gallon mason jar that I have been pining after since I was at Telion Holon and saw their wall of mason jars (I bought one just because they are cool - a horrible consumerist response I know, but I will actually use it- promise!).
4. Oil, honey, nut butters, chips, chocolate, and other junk food in bulk.
5. Cleaning/beauty products in bulk. Okay, this one is REALLY cool because I've never seen this selection before, and in my desire to reduce/eliminate(?) the plastics that I consume this isle of bodily and house cleaners in bulk will be key.
6. They sell 100% Pure products. A company that I love for their philosophy, and product line, but am annoyed at because they never responded to my letter. (More on that later, but bottom line they still rock! Check them out!)
7. They sell organic, raw Kimchi from this cool place in Berkeley which is closed on the weekends. Since Rainbow is open on the weekends, now I get to have my kimchi and eat it too.
8. Rainbow is a worker-owned coop. (This probably should have been higher up on the list. Silly me.)
9. Their website is awesome, and filled with recipes, info on the food they sell, and links to so many other cool enviro info.
10. They are closed on March 31 in honor of Cesar Chavez' birthday. How cool is that?!

So, I'm a smitten kitten as you can see. The only sad part (although lucky for my wallet) is that Rainbow is in the City, and I am not. I will have to plan special trips there, bring all of my reusable, empty containers to fill up with yummies, and burn up a ton of fossil fuels transporting myself there in future visits.

Long distance love. How do you make it work? Will it last?

New Hope for #5 plastics

Here is some exciting news about recycling #5 plastics and lids (lids from almost anything that has a lid -cool huh!):

1. The company “Preserve” now accepts any #5 plastics, including Brita filters, and recycles them to make their own product line of recycled items. Check out the program here, and how/where to drop off #5s:
http://www.preserveproducts.com/gimme5/

2. Aveda accepts all rigid polypropylene plastic caps/lids, sometimes noted with a 5 for recycling into “new” packaging for their products. For more info check out the program here:
http://aveda.aveda.com/aboutaveda/caps.asp

Does this mean that I can guilt-free eat my hummus and salsa in the #5 plastic tubs again?

So, it's not my fault. I've been brainwashed!

I spent this past weekend participating in a workshop at the beautiful, lovely, enchanting, magical Esalen Retreat Center in glorious Big Sur. OMG was it amazing! As I was saying all weekend to everyone I met, "I feel like I have come home!" Esalen is truly a grounding, special place filled with people who feel like family, food that fills your belly as well as your soul, and nature that grounds you instantly upon arrival!

On Sunday afternoon when the time came to depart from this magical place, I felt a natural sadness that comes from leaving the safety and happiness of a place that seems so rich with life, and community where everyone is willing to be a mirror for love and acceptance for you. I was continually trying to delay my departure from Esalen, being scared of how I was going to take the beautiful feeling of community, stillness, love, and groundedness back into the minutiae of my everyday life.

I was sitting in their mineral hot spring tubs, conversing with a beautiful group of "friends" including my retreat leader from the weekend, and delaying (once again) the inevitable drive home and departure from this fairyland. We were discussing everything from painting, to consumerism, to book writing, to life themes, and I was basking in the glory of this experience and wishing that conversations like this happened more in "real" life.

Anyway, a beautiful friend to my right mentioned that we should all go home and watch "The Century of Self" online. This is a 4-part video documentary produced by the BBC. This documentary describes how Edward Bernays and his uncle Sigmund Freud used psychological techniques to create the desire to want and consume things. As mentor to Edward Bernays, Paul Mazer, is quoted in the movie:

"We must shift America from a needs to a desire country. People must be trained to desire. To want new things before the old had been entirely consumed. We must shape a new mentality in America. Man’s desire MUST overshadow his needs." (1920)

And the concept of consumerism was born. We've been brainwashing into believing that our identity is wrapped up in what be buy and how we present ourselves with things, and fashion. Objects become the symbols of how we are perceived by others.

Yow! So it's not entirely my fault that I am a selfish, consumeristic nutter who tries to project myself through the things I buy, own, and wear? Okay, so that makes me feel a bit better, but I still want to be back in the safe bubble of Esalen where you don't have to try and project yourself through your stuff, because the people who are there have the ability to transcend this, and see through that junk to the real you. That is the magic of Esalen. You can cut through the BS and just be you!

And here I am back in real life, trying to figure out how to be real without hiding behind the comfort of my stuff. Any help?

If anyone is interested in watching the 4-part documentary episodes of "The Century of Self" here they are. P.S. You will be sickened, and turned on your end after watching these:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

The State of the World is Overwhelming Me!

So, I'm just having one of those days when the state of the world seems so yucky, and I feel evil, consumeristic, fat, selfish, annoying, whiney, the cause of global warming, wasteful, and unfriendly. In reality it is probably just PMS casting a gloomy haze over my day, but my funk does make me wonder if I am doing enough to help stop polar bears from drowning, and the Northern Pacific Gyre of plastic from expanding. I want to fix it all, and I want to do it now! Here is my extreme top ten list of to do items for saving the world:

1. Eat a diet of food grown within a 250 mile radius (or let's just say all of California)
2. Eat 80% raw and 20% cooked food
3. Give up consuming any new petroleum based plastics
4. Only buy organic cotton if I "need" to buy cotton
5. Stop buying anything new
6. Eliminate garbage (sending anything to the landfill)
7. Buy only used/antique stuff
8. Give up my car and only bike/take public transportation
9. Give away everything I own (ha!)
10. Turn off the TV and give it away

So, a little ambitious are we? I feel so overwhelmed with feeling that I need to do it all, that I instead become paralyzed and do nothing. Which ones should I do? Where should I start?

Perhaps I could just start with a smaller goal of mine: meditate daily, and drink a green smoothie for breakfast.

I LOVE Baking Soda!

For a week now I have been using pure baking soda as a deodorant, and it works!!! I just rub a bit of dry baking soda under each armpit, and am good to go. If I feel a little crazy, and want to "smell nice" I will spray essential oil on my pits. It even works after 5 solid hours of dancing and a few days in between showering (yes I did just admit that!). Anyway, I am a convert. The other "hippie" deodorants never had these miraculous results. This really works! Try it!

Here are some other blogs/pages that tout the results:
Life Less Plastic #1
Life Less Plastic #2
Fake Plastic Fish
Homemade Deodorant

Oh the Irony!

So, as ironic as this post is going to be compared with the previous post here it is... Drum roll please...
A list of of things (in addition to salsa and hummus) I will miss in my new (wannabe) plastic-free lifestyle:

*pens
*those pore cleaning strips (yeah...well... I hardly every buy/use these, but I really do like them!)
* kombucha (plastic seal around and under the metal lid)
*tapatio (plastic cap)
*Fleece
*Take out from Garden Fresh, and Vegetarian House (yummers!)
*Toothbrushes (must find a way to mitigate this!)
*Packaging tape (really any tape)
*"100% Pure" beauty products
*Sponge refills for my sponge with soap in the handle
*Chips (salsa's gone now too -sad!)

Yes, I realize that I seem spoiled and ickily consumeristic, but I do think that I will miss these things. Sniff. I'm sure that I'll manage; please don't pull out your violins for me, but if you do have suggestions for plastic-free alternatives to these items I would love to hear about it!

Oh the stuff I have!

Okay, so after a week of reading blog after blog, and several articles about people who have given up plastic and are fighting their consumeristic ways, I am hating everything that I own! I think that it also has something to do with the fact that moving, packing up, and schleping my belongings always tends to overwhelm me (and bring into stark spotlight) the amount of stuff that I actually own. I have too much stuff, whaaaa!!! and what I really want to do is give it ALL AWAY -all of it! Call up the Goodwill truck!

In all the boxing up, organizing, rearranging, etc. I was able to take inventory of the annoyingly large amount of crap I own. These are just some of the shocking things I discovered:
23 tubes of lip glosss, chapstick, etc. (just how many lips do I have?!?)
10 tubes/jars of hair product (I have crazy hair that needs management, but this is nuts!)
7 pairs of scissors (Really?!?)
10 highlighters
42 ballpoint pens (OMG! -I'm taking all but a few of these to work!)

Cathy, you don't need to buy anything, ever again! Just in case I need some motivation to resist my evil consumeristic ways I will watch this video: The Story of Stuff.

Bye-bye salsa and hummus!

Alright folks! After the past week of reading blogs, and watching heart-wrenching videos on Youtube, I feel awful about my plastics consumption. Therefore, I am giving up my delicious fresh salsa and hummus in plastic containers. This is just a small step in a journey of many, many steps in the future, but for now I'm putting the kibosh on my wonderfully delicious, HOT Casa Sanchez salsa from Whole Foods, and any creamy delicious (and highly addicting) fresh hummus in evil plastic containers.

Instead I'm going to sprout my own dried garbanzo beans in the new linen sprouting bags that I made last week and make my own raw, fresh hummus in large batches and freeze it in mason jars. Here are a few recipes that look easy and yummy:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Raw-Hummus/Detail.aspx
http://reversemonster.org/RAW/raw-hummus-its-alive-and-more-importantly-its-yummy
http://www.living-foods.com/recipes/rawhummus.html

As for the salsa, well, I guess that I have some options: (1) salsa in jars (not as yummy as fresh salsa & probably have plastic seals under the metal lids -darn!); (2) give up salsa (Pu-leeeze!); (3) make my own (I'll have to try that in the summer when I can get fresh, local, organic ingredients).

Sniff... sad to see you go lovely salsa and hummus, but I have me some Mother Earth to be a savin'!