Mint Leaves & Chicken Soup

 Not feeling so great in the morning, so mint leaves in hot water are called for to start the day...

 A little peach jam on my toast.

 My Abundant Harvest Organics basket- delicious!

And a little chicken soup, my mexican recipe with epazote and cilatro topped with avocado and cheese.

A very busy food day!

LUNCH
Mom's very special Salmon Potato Salad (revised because I always seem to misplace her recipe).
Very tasty and fresh for a beautiful summer day
(or should I say- June Gloom wanna be summer)...

DINNER


Carbonara and a fresh tangy salad

 I spent the afternoon researching and then finally making fruit spread / jams with my too many peaches, nectarine and oranges.  This photo is from the beginning of my Marmelade recipe which has only  1 cup of sugar and to which I added some ground ginger.

Cardomon infused Peach and Nectarine Spread with a hint of saffron.

 My gingered marmelade

Best fed chickens in West LA

Thibaud grows up with regular weekend visits to Granpa + his chickens.  We get our fresh organic eggs from our Thompa weekly, the best fed chickens in West LA!

Emergency Lunch: Israeli coucous

 Israeli Coucous to the rescue
Yummy, with grated kale, zuchini, bay leaf, onion and crumbled feta cheese.
Simple, fast and nutricious.














With a special side of artichoke boiled in caper scented water.

Hot Dogs + more

Didn't have much but veggies in the fridge, meats were frozen and was suddenly in the mood for junk.
Made Bratwurst Dogs with delicious Moosewood Spicy Kale ( I used mustard greens instead) + Curried Peppers and Corn...  See for yourself!

I just ordered 2 new Moosewood recipe books, I just love their flavourful + healthy recipes.

Organic Pluot & Cherry Jam

Had many pluots and cherries from my Abundant Harvest organics basket, so I made jam today!

Father's Day Beet Salad For Martha

Opps!  Forgot to take a picture of my beet salad made specially for our family brunch.

1/2 cup unsalted walnuts
1 tsp butter
1 tbsp brown sugar

6-8 small beets
2 cups cleaned green beans
red lettuce
1/2 cup blue cheese

Vinaigrette
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp modena balsamic vinegar
crushed fresh black pepper
1tsp salt
1 tsp brown sugar

Brown walnuts in butter and add brown sugar.  Mix until sugar dissolves.  Remove from heat and cool.

Scrub any dirt from beets, cut ends.  Bring water in a deep pan to a rolling boil.  Add beets and boil until soften (approx 20 minutes for small beets).  Remove from heat, drain water and fill with ice cold water.  Once cooled, peel skin off under cold running water.

Snip ends off green beans and steam 4-5 minutes until bright green.  Cool under cold water.
Quarter the beets.  Place beets, lettuce, green beans and blue cheese in a salad bowl and toss.

Whisk vinaigrette ingredients together in a separate bowl, and pour over salad.

Buon appetito!

Steak, Patates, Shopping and LoVe

What a great day!  David has been giving me Thursdays off.  That means I get to leave the house (with Thibaud -our toddler) on my own and do whatever I like...

Well, it's June Gloom here in Malibu (or it it June Glum- seems sadder) so I haven't been jogging, or bike riding, or swimming-the Pacific is wayyyyy toooo cold for me, surfing (lack of suit, board & buddy)...
I have been for a mani/pedi (1st in 2 years), shopping, coffee on my own with a newspaper, and driving down the PCH with really loud Molotov/Cat Power (depending on the mood)...

These Thursdays are Great!!

I am definitely grateful...+ we are on night 3 straight of sleeping through the night...A definite NICE feeling.

Happiness is creeping back into my life.... :)

Almost...Perfect Day

Well Thibaud is now saying "Na-naa-na" which sometimes actually is "Banana" and tickle tickle!

T & I had a wonderful day, playing, reading, napping and eating. 

Made a Quinoa & Sweet Potato side to our liver with Red Wine Shallots sauce.  Ready for bed.  Night night.

Reminder: Coffee before opening Mail in the morning

Ok.  Must remember to always drink my coffee before opening my computer in the morning. 

It feels wonderful, a full night of sleep.  This has been the 2nd in 1 month.  I wish they were consecutive but who can complain, I am certainly grateful.  Definitely feels great.  Thibaud,our 16 month son, wakes us up giving us kisses.

Today on the agenda:

1. Accounting-entering numbers into Quicken (yay, just spent at one store yesterday! so I only have one receipt to enter- Penzeys spices)
2. Figure out dinner (our fridge is keeping many items frozen -herbs, meats and veggies- perhaps a veggie dish for tonight)
3. Cleaning the house (or keeping it clean-  running after my toddler)
4. Calling the vet, seems our wheaten terrier is now resistant to frontline.  I have been treating him every 3 weeks, and still find fleas!!  Poor Mohito, fighting allergies, fleas and hot spots!!

 

 

 

Mohito and Thibaud with our pet oracle cards*

 

 

Hmmm 1st Post errr

So, we have been discussing an artist-wife blog for 6 months now.  Tonight, I think I'm ready!

I will be making this about:  Art, Food, Baby, Fun,  Struggle, Finding Time, Money or lack of, wanting to train again, Food, Support and + much much more etc...

Finally, after 16 months, I'm getting a little more sleep.  Can't wait to have a REAL full night of sleep.  Mama land has changed my life...but I am savoring every second of it.  Decided this week to try Raw cuisine...here was my first attempt:  Raw Tacos from Moosewood ...They were delicious, just a little time-consuming on the prep (I was preparing 2 other meals, so that might have been the problem)...
That just meant I didn't spend too much time on the prettiness of the plates!

Son and hubby-2-be LoVED!!