Monday, June 30, 2014

Thoughts on Food




I have been tempted to write this post for quite sometime.  Food we all eat it, we enjoy and savor it, food nourishes our bodies and helps us grow. It is also a topic that inspires passionate discussion and debate, mostly online. I am very active online and watch and follow many thought leaders on this topic from amazing chef's using farm fresh and sustainable ingredients. Jonathan Karpathios a chef in Amsterdam I feel hit the nail on the head describing what real food is in his TED talk , love his passion for growing food and working with farmers for his restaurant and eating in season. He's a joy to tweet with also and really cares. 

 Another person I learnt lots from and enjoy tweeting with is Simran Sethi, she is a wonderful person who passionately shares about seeds and biodiversity, agriculture and environmental issues. In our time we are eating a much less diverse diet these graphs give a powerful illustration its amazing how much corn is grown in America for example and its not to eat. 

I am not a farmer just a beginner home gardener inspired by my wonderful Granddad who grew vegetables in his garden all of his adult life. This also inspired me to study to be a master gardener, I am nearly finished with the course and hope to volunteer in school gardens.

Its healthy to ask questions about food - what are GMO's? how was it grown? was it sustainably farmed?  how much pesticides were used?  it is good for us?.. and so on. 

Never be afraid to ask these questions as it shows you care. 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Vegetable Biriyani



Love Biriyani it always reminds me of getting a small takeout to snack on, during long train rides in Southern India when we first visited as newly weds. Another rice dish I love from India is lemon rice its wonderful in a packed lunch. I made this recently and hubby was even impressed that's a big thing as he's particular about his Indian food will share the recipe soon. I thought I would share some flower pictures from our garden to make you smile, love adding perennials to show color though out the year, the garden is a work in progress and be patient a mature and lovely garden takes years and careful management. Remember we all bloom at the right time. 

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Pineapple Cupcakes


I made these simple little cupcakes with the wee man recently, and he proudly gave one to his big sister when she got off the school bus. Its almost like a pineapple upside down cake. I always have fond memories of cakes growing up I was fortunate to have a Mum who baked and we always had homemade cakes in the house. 

Baking is a great way to involve little ones in the kitchen, then slowly get them to wash vegetables and and help plan meals. Its also wonderful to have a small vegetable garden and involve the kids, we have tomatoes growing, strawberries, peppers, green beans, eggplant and peas. The other day I got fresh peas from the farmers market and our daughter helped me shell them. Excited to watch it grow and see our little darlings grow. Remember we are growing sweet little people so concentrate on nourishing, tasty and fun foods. 

Japanese eggplant in the garden


Ingredients:

  • 4 oz self raising flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 oz sugar 
  • about 10 small slices of pineapple 
  • 1/2 cup of icing sugar 
  • 4 oz of butter
  • one tablespoon of milk
Method:

  1. heat the oven to 350 
  2. cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy 
  3. add the eggs and flour and a splash of milk 
  4. add pineapple to cupcake cases and put the batter on top 
  5. bake at 350 for 10 - 15 minutes until a knife comes out clean
  6. allow cupcakes to cool 
  7. mix the icing sugar with a little water until it forms a paste 
  8. drizzle the cupcakes with icing 
  9. enjoy watching your loved ones eat them 


patty pan blossom

tomato plants so far

our first ripe blueberry




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Monday, June 16, 2014

Home



 Home


by Rebecca Subbiah

Home a dwelling place, a place of well being.

To many a town or geographical location gives reason to stay and call home.
A place with history and connections to the past, memories that last.
To some wanderers and explorers like butterflies flittering from place to place.

We inter marry, fuse cultures and create new identities and stories.
Maybe home dwells within transforming though journeys, culture, exploration with no clear explanation.

Journeys add moments, memories and lessons to the foundations and building of home. 

Be free to roam, carry the sense of home within, embrace wonder and know you have a home in the creators house. 

The world is your home be still and feel the thrill of knowing your sense of belonging is found in the quiet moments of a small voice whispering you are my child.

Home is found in the hugs, smiles and laughter of loved ones, the feeling of being understood.

Be at home with not the location or your vocation but being at ease and at peace and the skill to bloom where planted.







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Sunday, June 8, 2014

Farmers Market Pasta



I love this time of year when the farmers markets start again, there's something magic about fresh in season produce. The flavors are so good and often you only need to make the simplest of recipes to allow them to shine. 


Ingredients:

  • pasta of choice
  • shiitake mushrooms about 6 sliced
  • 3 cloves of garlic chopped
  • a big handful of arugula 
  • 2 tablespoon of white wine
  • a sprinkle of red chili flakes
  • salt and pepper to taste 
  • one rasher of bacon sliced 
  • a little butter

Method:

  1. cook the bacon and garlic for 3 minutes
  2. then add the wine and let it reduce add the mushrooms a knob of butter and cook for a few minutes 
  3. add the arugula and a little red chili flakes,  and let it reduce down 
  4. meanwhile cook pasta of choice till al dente 
  5. add the pasta to the vegetables with a little of the cooking water to form a sauce
  6. and serve, season with salt and pepper to taste 


Last weekend I went to the mountains with my friends for a girls trip it was lovely we ate at a really cool restaurant in Spruce Pine called the Fork and Knife, I can't recommend it enough first class food. The chef used to work cooking for celebrities in LA and his creativity and finesse are evident using seasonal and local ingredients. 


Hubby and the kids joined me on saturday and we went to Linville falls, simply gorgeous and a nice little hike easy to do with wee ones.


What restaurant have you really enjoyed lately?



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