Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Random Catch-Ups

Cookie Eater, but not the Cookie.

Whew. Busy weekend. Busy week. Busy day.

Temperature extremes. Yup. In Iowa we got it all, 50's to 90's.

Loads of family and friends are getting new roofs. (I feel like I should say rooves.)

Our final hail assessment will be in my work parking lot tomorrow morning. (That sounds weird, doesn't it? "Hey lady, pssst...over here.)

NOT the cookie fail. Just an attempt to remind myself I CAN make a good cookie.

Last night 24 (who will soon be renamed by herself because I can't keep using her age...) took week one of a four week Raw food class. Too cool. I learned some stuff...lots of stuff. Took two pages of notes. I will share some of the fun tidbits with you. For starters, I learned that the way you slice/cut/shred veggies and foods is a key to release flavors. This may be a duh moment. But I never thought of that. I just chop and toss. But the teacher said that you work with the food's textures and strengths. Wow. Revolutionary thought. I learned that you can sprout quinoa which is pretty exciting. Another use for that lovely little grain. Week three will give us sprouting techniques and suggestions. She also told us that we could get a mushroom kit and grow our own fresh portabellas for lower cost than we buy them at the grocery store. A good knife is magical and a tool that will last almost a lifetime. (I do NOT have a good knife.) Next week we will learning better knife techniques.

Sweet information that I kind of wish I knew earlier. Ha. Ha. Anyhoo. I'm going to get my money's worth out of the class. And will probably develop knife envy. Too late, I'm pretty sure I already have it.

Low point. Not for the dogs, but for me. I tweaked a cookie recipe (one without chocolate...maybe that was the problem.) that was kind of a fail. The dogs LOVE them. I mean really love them. They are doughy with a hint of sweet (the cookies, not the dogs.) Edible, but not tasty (again, cookie not dog). Unless you are a dog. If you are a dog you would smell them from across the room and harass the cookie holder until she gives you one. People? I think they subtly slide it under the table into the waiting mouth of a dog. But. I am determined to make a cookie that pleases man and beast. Just a little more tweaking. Or a lot more. We'll see.

And the farm looms. Glad it's not going to be 90 again. Hopefully I won't leave behind DNA or have to kill tomato demons. Report tomorrow.

Serials and Scenario's Amish Values for Your Family ~ Reviewed

Amish Values for Your Family: What We Can Learn from the Simple Life

Suzanne Woods Fisher

Paperback: 192 pages

Publisher: Revell (August 1, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0800719964

Description:

For readers who long for strong families that know how to truly enjoy life together, there is much to learn from the Amish. Values like community, forgiveness, simple living, obedience, and more can be your family legacy--without selling your car, changing your wardrobe, or moving out to farm country.

In Amish Values for Your Family, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher shows how you can adopt the wisdom of the Amish when it comes to family matters. In this inspiring and practical book readers will find charming true stories interlaced with solid, biblical advice about parenting, marriage, and all aspects of family life. As readers get an intimate glimpse into the everyday lives of real Amish families, they will learn to prioritize what's truly important, simplify decision-making, slow down as a family, safeguard time together, and let go when the time comes.

Review:

I'm not in love with Amish fiction, which seems to be on the top of the book pile of popularity. So, I've not read any of Suzanne Woods Fisher's novels.

But, I am fascinated by the Amish lifestyle. There is a part of me, buried deep within my soul, that wants to live simply and in a tight knit family-rich society. I read and watch documentaries about this simple way of life with a little bit of envy and a lot of wistful sighing. I know I've romanticized the Amish. There is a deep sense of mystery to them, and a steadfastness that is the polar opposite of modern society. Their lives are hard, and I'd miss things like my every other month pedicure if I set out to join up with a group of simple people. (And probably my husband, too, he would make for an impressive Amish man but don't think he shares my longing.) And if you read my post last week about our Amish sighting you have probably already figured out that I'm a wee bit intrigued by the lifestyle. (Pampered dogs, well, yes. They are, and I dare say my feet are a waste of pampering as well.)

All that said. If you feel the way I do about the simple life. If there is a longing in your soul to work hard and shun modern conveniences and distractions, you probably need to just go ahead and click on title then the "add to my cart" button. (Another English convenience I'd miss.)

Fisher covers dozens of aspects and attitudes of Amish life and recounts stories and examples from Amish folks. She then sifts through the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle to the core issue, names it and suggests what we English can add to our own lives and families to capture the sense of simple. With quotes and sweet stories, moments of convicting thoughts, and helpful suggestions, she makes it possible to choose to simplify where we can so that we can have a taste of the peace and fulfillment that seems to occur in a life lived simply.

If you took the time to read the review, you just probably need to get a copy.

Scraps and Snippets ~ Mixed Ethnicity for Dinner? Why Not?

So. We needed dinner. What to do? 

Armed with this recipe (which is two thumbs up with nary a substitution) and a bag of broccoli slaw, we began creating. 

Broccoli Slaw

1 bag broccoli slaw

1 T rice vinegar

1 T sesame oil

1/2 teaspoon soy sauce

2 T sesame seeds

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

1 teaspoon sweetener of choice (I used agave)

1 teaspoon dried cilantro

3 T raisins

3 T sunflower seeds

Mix and chill. 

I love the homey touch in the picture, the pen and the back of the bank receipt that I scribbled measurements on. Ha. Ha.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Weekend Adventure ~ Hold Please

So I wanted to give you a recipe or two.

But in order to do that I have to decipher my chicken scratches and type it out. And I have been remiss. The muffins are really tasty. And. I tentatively promise to post that one tomorrow.

Let's just say that you are on hold, temporarily, and you are going to enjoy entertainment while on hold. Not of the musical variety. But of the visual.

Photographic highlights of the camping trip.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Growing Pains

Hail storms are very efficient. Not only can they decimate produce that is just a few hours from being perfect, the damage done stretches beyond days into weeks. 

Though it's been almost three weeks since the softball, baseball and golf ball sized hail pummeled the organic farm, there is still clean up going on. The dead and dying invite insects and encroach on the healthy fruit. The tomato harvest is one-fifth of what was promised by the blossoms and sets.

The corn harvest ground to a halt. Hail pelted the ears leaving cracks for insects and bruised kernels. Leaves were stripped off, and tassels were broken. The tassel pollinates the corn. Triple whammy. 

But. Once again I am reminded that life does go on. There will be more next year and beyond. This was not a vineyard torn up by the roots. Or a grove of pecan trees broken off at ground level. Even now the farmers are harvesting seeds for next year. The asparagus grows strong, oblivious to the fate of the corn and tomatoes. A few squash plants have reappeared after being swept into another section in the garden. And the basil shows no evidence of trauma. Baby lettuce embraces the sun and begins to peek out at the big world around it.  Life does indeed go on.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Weekend Adventure ~ Camping Trip

 We did a wee bit of camping this holiday weekend. Lots of fun Vegan food, including Veg French toast w/ almond butter, maple syrup and banana slices. Yum. Veg Sloppy Joes, Veg Philly Sandwiches and Veg S'Mores. 

Veg S'Mores may have been the most popular. And they were very tasty (and easy once we found the Veg marshmallows). I'll post recipes soonish. A few are keepers for sure, a few need a tweak or two. And a couple are tweaked to near perfection after they were tried during the Montana trip.

  We didn't go too far from home. Just a few hours down the road. We camped near a very small town. The most exciting part of the three block long downtown were the cool murals on the side of buildings, and the razor wire on top of a very tall fence. Inside the very tall fence was a basketball hoop and outside were law enforcement vehicles. Methinks we spied the town jail.

 Oh, we had rain. Rain and bugs. However, the rain fell when we were sightseeing, shopping and while we ate. Rob had cracked out a covering over the table before it began raining so we stayed nice and dry. A wind came after the rain and dried the tent to perfection and kept bugs away during the evening. Nice.

Highlights of the trip ended up being firsts for the canine girls and 24. We hit a pocket of Amish country. We visited a furniture shop with BEAUTIFUL furniture and a country store that carried bulk items, some organic ones. Both were lit only by skylight and windows. The furniture store boasted a fruit and veggie stand out front of it so we grabbed some goodies. We scored carob chips, organic raisins, sesame seeds and homemade jams for really decent prices, too. Nice serendipity. 

Plus. 24 was able to see her first close-up Amish children. Three little kids stared out the window at her as she checked on the dogs. (Uhhh, so it was a little odd, but it worked. The dogs were in the pickup bed while we drove around (safely secured, FYI). And when it started to rain Rob rolled the cover over them. So when we got to the country store we opened the tailgate. The Amish furniture builder called the dogs "Pampered" and the little kids probably thought that we were pretty crazy, too. Ha. Ha. )

The pampered pooches were on their best behavior all weekend. Didn't bark at people or chase wildlife. And they had their first real taste of a lake. Lily is a very accomplished swimmer after a rough start. Lola. Well, she prefers some terra firma under her feet, even if it might be a bit soggy. However, if her sister will swim out and get the frisbee or stick, she'll gladly help out. 


The cutest moment may have been when Lily lost the stick that was tossed and went to a half submerged tree and broke off her own stick to bring to her mom.

Scraps and Snippets ~ Lentils? What to do? Tapenade Alfredo

Tapenade Alfredo

1/4 small onion

3 Large green olives (mine were stuffed with a garlic clove)

3 Large Kalamata olives

2 Garlic cloves

1 TBSP sun-dried tomatoes (with the oil)

2 TBSP nutritional yeast

1 TBSP lemon juice

1/2 Cup soaked and drained cashews (I soaked them for an hour)

1 Cup of cooked lentils

1 Cup Veggie Broth

Put everything except the broth and lentils in the food processor and let it rip. Blend it up but good. Add lentils and broth and whirl again.

Ladle over cooked pasta of your choice. And add raw, roasted or sauteed veggies of choice (we added raw heirloom tomatoes and sauteed spinach and mushrooms.