it’s a tiny tuesday update! 😀
i have made a lot of changes to my adorable tiny home, but i wanted to share these fotos so you can see the progression 🙂
main entrance, with ladder leading to loft…
computer desk to the right… it’s kind of like having an “office” 😉
behind my “office” – an open space and area for coats, etc. Continue reading
this is my third year making my vegan thumbprint cookies {AKA “vitamix breakfast cookies”} to give as gifts or to share at work… or eat all by yourself 😉
so, here’s the original recipe in case you missed it…
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these are always always always a hit. i’m not much of a baker, but when i find something that is easy to make and that people like, i try to perfect it and make it my own. i have yet to quite create the perfect consistency for these {i’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to anything i make or do}, but i do think i found the right name for them. the ingredients are so simple and healthy that you could literally eat them for breakfast – and not feel at all guilty about it!! they are also great for holiday parties or after school snacks. a good source of dietary fiber and protein as well as healthy fats.
yields about 3 dozen cookies, depending on size variation.
as always, i’m a huge proponent for using as many organic products as possible when i cook or eat…
– 1 cup almonds or pecans or a mix of both
– 1 cup rolled oats {gluten-free works, too!}
– 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
– 1/2 cup maple syrup
– 1/2 cup canola or safflower oil {which i haven’t yet tried}
– 1/4 teaspoon salt {i believe this constitutes as a “pinch”}
– your favourite jam or conserve {i have wanted to try a savory jam like jalapeno berry or something}
begin by preheating your oven to about 400 degrees. Continue reading
nom nom… i just love this time of year. the holidays are also all about eating, right?! and sharing… 🙂
like this homemade peanut brittle from a friend’s mama in michigan and homemade caramels from my wonderful neighbours -50 yards away.
my goodness they are both SO AMAZING! i completely savoured each one, and still am. it’s that kind of treat – when someone takes time to make something so incredibly delicious like this and then shares it… THAT is the true meaning of the holidays… or, the nom-nom-idays. i think we should start making it more about food than “gifts”. afterall, i believe food is one of THE BEST gifts you can give… and receive 😉 Continue reading
i watched this movie…
i ate this entire bag of holiday grapes…
i saw this on the bus ride into work… i’m pretty sure it took off from someone’s private ranch… Continue reading
i mean, seriously. the temps have been beyond frigid lately and i’m wearing more layers and socks than any one person probably should… but we’re due for a heat-wave this week – we’re going to hit 32 degrees!!!
😉
brrrr… {but pretty!}
bbrrrrrr…. {but cool!}
bbbrrrrrrrrr…… {but happy!}
brr. {and it’s true!}
hope you’re staying warm out there. have a great weekend! haha, and my wearing-of-many-layers makes me think of this :
i heart coconut water… and not just after a good workout or to help cure a hangover {yep, it’s good for that!} although, coconut water will replenish you better than 10 gatorades {i don’t drink that stuff, but it’s fun to exaggerate sometimes} or a gallon of water alone. seriously this stuff is amazing! it’s almost identical to human plasma, and is extremely high in potassium and antioxidants.
there are lots of different coconut water brands out there… and many of them are good.
this one is THE BEST.
i mean, really… it’s THE best coconut water on the planet. harmless harvest coconut water has figured out the best formula {and philosophy}… and can you just guess what it is?! KEEP IT SIMPLE 🙂 i dig these guys and their minimalist approach to things.
it’s like sticking a straw straight into a coconut that has been gathered in southeast asia. Continue reading
hey friends.
{i just want to preface this by taking a moment to express my gratitude to the Universe for being ALIVE and well. i had quite a scare last week and it has given me a whole new perspective on life…}
as you may have noticed, i haven’t been writing as much over the last few weeks. i plan to update you on my life very soon… there have been even more changes 😉 but i haven’t been creating as many recipes lately. for a few reasons, really… but fret not, creating and cooking and fotographing will recommence very soon.
part of it is becoming acclimated in my new mini kitchen. as a reminder, this is what i’m working with :
i LOVE my tiny home, don’t get me wrong… i’m just trying to find my niche and the best way to cook as i fotograph… it is somewhat of a challenge right now. a few final changes are coming together in the kitchen, i just need to start coming up with recipes again. Continue reading
my creative fee is $365 for 5 hours of FOOD or 5 hours of FOTO
contact me for more details! 🙂
the holidays are officially here!
here are a few of my favourite recipes from 2013… any and all of which celebrate the true meaning of this season – EATING! 😀
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buffalo chicken wraps {perfect for the game!}
pasta primavera with fresh-grated parmigiano reggiano
grilled leek and shitake mushroom risotto
pomegranate smoothie {it IS pomegranate season!}
egg nog… please.
to YOU!
that’s right, you. the reader reading this blogpost right now.
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the lady with the latte in one hand while her nails dry…
the guy with the messy hair who just woke up and has his dog nipping at his leg, begging to be taken outside…
the teenager who thinks i’m cool because i keep it real…
the mom who wandered over to my blog and was inspired to create something different for dinner…
the girl who’s my age and who takes comfort knowing she’s not the only 30-something without a husband or kids…
the athlete who loves my smoothie recipes…
the family who wants to hire me to take their portrait. {just email me! :)}
the fellow blogger who appreciates artistry…
YOU!
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all of you.
i wanted to shout out to all of my 700-plus readers who take time to stop in and give validation to the things i say and the things i share. as an introverted artist, it takes a lot for me to “put myself out there” {ugh, i even don’t like the term} however, it gives my heart so much comfort and joy every time someone clicks that “follow” button. i appreciate you all following my blog, taking time to read the wacky things i say, and taking time to comment and share. this wordpress blog forum has really been an amazing outlet for me and i feel such a strong sense of community among bloggers i’ve met.
i am just so grateful to each of you – words won’t really be able to express {remember my natal mercury retrograde?! ;)} but i had to do something to show my appreciation.
this thanksgiving, i’m thankful for so much, as usual… but today i want to focus on being thankful for support. THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart! you inspire and encourage me, just by reading and engaging.
🙂
my goodness do i love scallops!
pan-seared in some amazing butter… click here to see the best and only cooking method one should use to make these decadent sea-dwellers. like most good things in life, it should be done low and slow.
and i also love asparagus!
i usually do my best to eat with the seasons… which means i wouldn’t normally be eating asparagus right now, but hey – i’m the birthday girl, i can do whatever i want, right?! 😉
my birthday {which is tomorrow, actually} is always so close to thanksgiving {it was ON thanksgiving last year and the year i was born}, but i admit i’m happy that it falls in an entirely different week this year! i haven’t really been thinking of the holidays as much this year since i switched jobs {that’s a whole big, long blogpost or BOOK waiting to happen} so it’s been nice to really focus my energy on ME. i do have to work tomorrow, which is kind of a bummer – but i’m celebrating today and tonight with this amazing food and drink.
i like to spoil myself on my birthday. i started this morning with my favourite americano from my favourite coffee shop and a sinful pastry they call an “apple jesus” – can’t wait to try that! and i plan to have peach-wood-smoked salmon for lunch, followed by the above amazing meal for dinner… swallowed down gently with this :
la fin du monde – french, which translates to “the end of the world”
it is a triple-fermented golden ale that is high in alcohol content {9% : i tried to finish the whole bottle once – not a good idea for this 110-pound lass} la fin du monde is full of wonderful champagne-like bubbles which deliver hints of honey and fruit, accompanied by floral notes that linger pleasantly and round-out with a smooth, dry finish.
i have one every year on my birthday… and i always cook myself a super nice meal, usually consisting of seafood, since it’s my ultimate fav. i am already salivating, just thinking about my day full of amazing food…
happy birthday to me! 🙂
hey friends! a while back i wrote about hilary’s eat well veggie burgers… they have quickly become a staple in my tiny home. i love the burgers, but i must admit that after trying the bites, they are definitely my favourite. i like “bite-sized” things anyway and hilary’s doesn’t disappoint.
you can read all about the company in my last blogpost – here. hilary’s eat well foods is a transparent company that is locally-owned and operated and they are also part of the non-gmo project – those are two of my favourite things about them. i’m such a fan and supporter and since i’ve collaborated with hilary’s eat well, i now have the fun opportunity of offering a giveaway!
all you have to do is go to hilary’s eat well facebook page and “like” them. then comment below telling me you did so, and i’ll enter your name in the drawing! Continue reading
green is good!
we all know how much i love kale. i’ve also been known to eat copious amounts of swiss chard. and i never turn away spinach, especially in a smoothie… and sometimes, nothing satisfies like a gigantic bowl of fresh-chopped salad mix…
i know we are heading into winter, but don’t forget to eat a lot of colour during this season!
a simple salad is a fantastic and delicious way to get raw, dense nutrients into your system. while i do find myself “craving” salad a little less during the winter months, i recognize how important it is to eat a salad as often as possible. in the summer i have one every day, but in the colder months, i typically want warm food {like most of us.} salads are a great way to absorb nutrients through healthy fats {add avocado, for example} and to get extra fiber in your diet. Continue reading
not quite broccoli, not quite cabbage, not quite cauliflower… romanesco is in a category all its own.
i’ve written a few times about romanesco… it’s one of my favourite things ever. you can probably still find romanesco at some supermarkets and specialty produce departments…
when i found this super awesome-looking and wonderfully-coloured one, i nabbed it up just so i could have a foto-session with it. i just find their fractal-nature so fascinating!!! “roman” and i had a lot of fun with the camera… i talk to my food – so what! and i hadn’t really seen one like this before – with the variation in colour. i am of the mentality that anything with natural colour is good for you… and the more, the better.
i just like to saute my romanesco in some yummy EVOO or butter and eat it up! it’s also really good just raw in a salad. the flavour is amazing, and i don’t know what it is about eating a “fractal”, but it just makes me happy.
can you guess what this is a fotograph of?! when i saw it, i just HAD to run and get my camera and capture these images…
the only manipulating i did to these fotos was in post-production, and the only thing i did was add contrast… and if someone can figure out what i actually fotographed, i will be so completely shocked. i think it will also be fun to see what kind of responses i can get!
😀
below is a close-up….
please comment!
pssssttt, hey – have fun! now, today, tomorrow, this week, next week, all month, the rest of this year… 2014… and beyond! 😀
i almost didn’t share these fotos… simply because i felt like what i witnessed was so sacred and so divine… i really felt the connection and bond to these creatures as i was fotographing them a couple weeks ago… there was something very special about my moments behind the camera with this herd of cattle. i even get a little teary-eyed thinking of it now.
hundreds of these animals live not to far up the road from me, on a gorgeous ranch. most of these are dairy cows, however a few of them are angus cows.
now, i’m not necessarily a vegetarian {though i’ve had my stints}, but i limit my intake of meat in general, and only once in a great while do i eat red meat. but when i do, i am so very particular about where it comes from and how the animal was treated while raised. i am too educated not to make wise decisions about what i eat. {watch food, inc. or any other number of food documentaries and see what i mean} i feel like it’s my responsibility in a way… and i was so happy to know that i could find and purchase grass-fed meats locally here in my new town.
what made me feel really good about seeing the angus cows on this farm, was knowing what a happy life they had. they weren’t shoved into a cattle-lot and stepping over each other just to eat. they were out grazing… on the most beautiful pasture, surrounded by mount sopris, bein’ all cool…
just hanging out, like this :
i feel like i eat garlic with almost every meal. it’s so good for you, so good for the immune system and for your joints, among a slew of other things. in the late spring this year, i purchased this beautiful braid of volcanic garlic. the rep from the farm suggested roasting it with olive oil in the oven, for a very unique experience and flavour.
on it! said food and foto dot com.
i have about 5 bulbs left on the braid i purchased… the guy did say, “buy this now and it will last you through the end of the year” – and here we are {6 months later} in early november and i still have some to play with – yay!
and obviously you can use any kind of garlic. i had actually never made roasted garlic on my own, so i just had to try…
and i did exactly what the farmer told me to do…. Continue reading
hey friends. how was your weekend? i took a long one, and spent some time in denver visiting a few loved ones. my goodness was it a rich weekend. i am so blessed to have some truly amazing people in my life. they are generous and giving and never turn their back on me. i am blessed to have such loving friends!
i had every intent to write “mercury monday” as promised yesterday, but i just ran out of time. i start a new job today and had to tie up loose ends in other ways and just get mentally prepared for the day. i’ll be working in glorious aspen… it is going to be a great season!
so here we are, in the final week of mercury retrograde. how have you been feeling over the last couple of weeks? personally, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster. i mean, i know i mentioned that mercury retrograde periods are when i feel most alive and articulate, and that is very true and still applies {hence the reason i have started journaling more and even started writing a book, finally!} – however, that doesn’t mean i am immune entirely to the energies that come along with it. Continue reading
food & foto 