IT"S HOT! And Farmers Market Is COOL!

It starting to really heat up in the city of salt and it's got me thinking about what we're all eating. In yoga this week my teacher (Scott) is having us do a practice that is cooling to our bodies instead of the crazy sweaty routine we usually do, (which I'm kind of thank full for, but don't tell him!). The point of this is to not over heat on the inside when it scorching on the outside. There's a reason we crave soup in the winter and salads in the summer. Our bodies are telling us what they need temperature wise. I know for me I crave spicy food all the time, I love spicy food but in the summer it makes me feel sick because I've raised the internal temp too much do to the temp outside. Why do you think cold watermelon tastes so fresh, and COOLING in the summer?, Well for one thing it's high in water so it does cool us down as well as refresh us. If we can all start to think about food in the way of what our bodies need do to what season we are in, it will save us some money in the pocket book as well as feeding our bodies what it needs at that time. In addition when we eat what is in season we are getting the most out of those fruits and veggies on a nutritional level. So what's great about the Farmer's Market is that the guess work of knowing what is in season is done for you. I will kind of have an idea of what I want to make for the week before I go to the market, but there are plenty of times I will make something based off what I find that week. For the money saving part when you buy fruits and veggies out off season you are paying for the travel it took to get to you, also food shipped into the country from another country has to go through it's own type of food quarantine. So the longer it takes to get to you that is precious time to produce, as soon as it is cut from it's source it starts to loose it's vital nutrients. So again the farmers market offerings are as fresh, local and delicious as you can get! On a little side note it forces me to try new things our bodies want and NEED a variety of fresh organic colorful food, so I encourage you to try something you've never tried who knows you might find something awesome.  This happened to me this week, I was buying some mushrooms and the guy selling them had some 'sea greens' I had seen them the week before and was to shy to ask about them (I know me shy?, there's an oxymoron!) so this week I asked he let me try and I bought some and used them in the veggie stir fry I made for lunches this week. There crunchy and slightly salty like the sea!  So go on eat something COOL and buy it from a HOT farmer. :)

* Sea Vegetables: Offer the the broadest range of minerals of ANY food, containing virtually all the minerals found in the ocean- the same minerals that are found in human blood. They are a n excellent source of calcium, iodine and sodium, a very good source of folic acid and magnesium, iron, potassium, riboflavin. In addition sea veggies contain plant compounds with cancer protective properties which can help the body's inflammatory response.

Sunday, Sunday- 10 Grain Hot Cereal

I don't know about you but I'm a very routine person, to my own default at times. I'm aware of it enough to know when it is time to shake things up. But Sunday's is one of those days that our routine makes us feel complete. Food plays a big part of this, at our house we go through food phases that turn into routines for awhile. Recently we used to do fajitas night every Thursday and even my clients would ask ' you guys having fajitas tonight, it's Thursday?' So for the past couple month's our Sunday breakfast is a steaming sweet bowl of 10 grain hot cereal, fresh squeezed orange/grapefruit/carrot juice, and of course a luscious chai soy latte. I think the reason our weekend breakfasts are so vital is because we don't see each other during the week for that meal, so we really look forward to that time together. When we were dating we would pack up a breakfast picnic and go to the park, but now that we have our own house we enjoy our comfy couch or the deck in our back yard. I hope this recipe feels with you warmth and and love. Enjoy.

*Whole grains in your diet may reduce your risk of certain chronic diseases. Certain cancers especially gastrointestinal cancer. Heart disease: antioxidant's contained in whole grains may work with fiber and other compounds to reduce your overall risk.

-Hot Cereal-

I buy Bob's Red Mill 10 Grain Hot Cereal

1. We follow the directions on the back, but we split it in half. They suggest using water but we use soy milk or soy delicious coconut milk.

2. When it is done cooking we scoop into two bowls and top with sliced almonds, walnuts and a drizzle of agave syrup.* Agave syrup if you don't know about it is like honey but it is a low glycemic  sweetener. That means it won't raise your blood sugar it is natural and is 25% sweeter than sugar. It can also be used in place of sugar when baking, for every 1 cup of sugar in a recipe you only need 1/3 cup of agave. AWESOME, give it a try.

-Orange/Grapefruit/Carrot Juice-

This makes a fair amount of juice for two but I bet you could get 4 small servings.

8 oranges, peeled

4 grapefruit, peeled

6 carrots

1. We have a juicer so we juice all of these together and divide between glasses. If you have a good blender you could try it that way. You would probably want to strain it first and then divide between glasses.

Another Week

I can't believe what a slacker I am! I have the best intentions of keeping my blog updated, but you know life happens. I have been cooking up healthy comforting fresh food just no time to write about it. So last weekend was the 4 of July holiday and we started our day at the farmers market (of coarse) and it was really mellow this weekend which I enjoyed, I'm not big on crowds. I think a lot of people were out of town. This week I went with a list because I get side tracked easily and I wanted to make sure I got what I was after. I got some beautiful baby shitake mushrooms, some balsamic vinegar, goat cheese, green beans, fresh garlic, Oh an this cashew cream from the Sunbridge growers. Holy crap I could eat that stuff with a spoon, it's made from cashews (obviously)! and who knows what else, it was great over berries and they also have homemade sprouted crackers that made a great spoon for shoveling that yummy goodness in my mouth! Even though I sometimes dislike getting up early to beat the crowds when I come home with all those goodies it's well worth it. Also I was asked to clarify something, in a previous blog I said ' if your anything like my husband you'll run to you local farmers market'. My sweet husband actually runs from our house to the market which is about 10 miles, and every week Little Polly (my grandma) things he's crazy and should get his head examined. So here's some new pictures of this week finds. Enjoy

Lunch for the week... Tabbouleh

I am so glad I found some time to catch you up with this wonderful light and refreshing dish. Every week I crave something different and it seems to me that this weeks recipes are about simple fresh flavors. Also I was wanting meals that make us feel refreshed like my 'green drink'. I had a crazy month and my husband just got back from a boys weekend in Vegas! That's right Vegas need I say more?! This has made a great lunch for us, you could make it for a side dish with chicken or fish or take to to a party with some pita.
I got this recipe from one of my favorite cooking show ladies, The Barefoot Contessa. She makes this all in a big bowl, refrigerates it and then stuffs pitas with the mixture and adds a slice of feta. I on the other hand layer the ingredients in our lunch containers starting with the feta, then the tabbouleh, I add brocco sprouts (not in the recipe), then the cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. It a fresh party in your mouth, Enjoy!

-Tabbouleh-

1 c. bulgar wheat (I get it the bulk section)
1 1/4 c. boiling water
1/4 c. lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/4 c. olive oil
kosher salt
1/2- 1 c. scallions, white and green parts (1 bunch), I used the ones in my garden!
1/2 c. chopped mint (fresh)
1/2 c. flat leaf parsley, chopped (fresh)
1 cucumber, seeded and medium diced, I use 6 little ones for our lunches.
1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 t. freshly ground pepper
3/4 lb. feta cheese (I got mine from the farmers market)
pita (if making sandwiches)

1. Place the bulgar in a large bowl, pour in the the boiling water, and add the lemon juice, olive oil and 1/2 t. salt. Stir, then allow to stand at room temperature about an hour.
2. Add scallions, mint, parsley, cucumber, tomatoes, 2 t. salt and the pepper, mix well. Season to taste and serve, or cover and refrigerate. The flavor will improve went the tabbouleh sits for a few hours.
3. If making lunches refer to above blog, if making for side dish add feta and serve. If making sandwiches stuff the tabbouleh and feta into the pita breads. Enjoy