Sunday Happy

Did you have an hour taken from you in the middle of the night? Oh oh ohhhhh, I did and I am already feeling al sorts off. I think because I am so regimented, that I wake up exactly the same time every morning and go for a run at almost the exact time every day, that it takes me a hot minute to adjust. But I guess that what naps are for.😁

The week. Weather wise it has mostly been super spring like and I have been hit with all the feelings of spring and basically want to tear my house apart, repaint all the walls was ceilings, get rid of everything, and then rum away. But really, the feelings are strong and I wake up from crazy dreams (anyone else have crazy dreams in the spring?) in the middle of the night about crazy things that need to be done. On the note I have convinced myself I HAVE to paint my kitchen ceiling mint green. My dream self knows.

Other then that, just the usual bumping around, doing he stuff, playing with clay and hitting the calculator to adding up numbers. Nothing overly exciting, well if you don’t count watching my amaryllis flower grow and start to open. It happens so fast and really is super cool to check how much its grown everyday. But yeah, just saw a few of my peoples, deep cleaned the fridge, went to the neighborhood seed swap and got me some seeds. Ended the week with a little snow storm so I got to spend some time shoveling some heavy ass snow. A try to lead a simple life.

Today the plan is low-key and go with the flow.. The mr has some work he needs to this afternoon and I have a bunch of pots that need to be trimmed so we figured we would take this morning to go hang with the littles for a bit, try to get them to leave their house and enjoy the last bits of winter, maybe build.a snow person!?? It’s getting harder and harder convince those little shits to do things. They have their little heads stuck in video games and cell phone crap and I am just not that cool anymore(shocker right?) but I am determined and might just end up dragging their limp little bodies from their caves and throwing them I a snowbank. I’ll do it. I really will. Haha!!

Internet from the week.

-Why This Start-Up Thinks Storing Containers In Space Is The Future. So what the actual fuck. I am pretty freaking sure that this is just a really bad idea. It actually pisses me off when I think about it.

-I am going to be fancy now. HA! This Is How They Do Those Swan Towels At Fancy Hotels

-45 Mandela Effect Examples That Will Blow Your Mind. Weird how the mind remembers the wrong things.

-I don’t want to drive anywhere. Gas is so EXPRENSIVE! How to Save Money on Gasoline

-Why uncommon baby names are surging. When I was a kid I used to think I would end up with twins and I was going to name them Outlet and Radio. Still holds up.

-I love pansies, they are so sweet. Pansies: More Than Just A Cheerful, Spring Beauty

-I like mt veggies raw or burnt so I am all for this. The Case for Cooking Vegetables Way Past the Point of Just Tender

-Can someone tell me why matches and not just a lighter? 16 Match Holders That'll Look Insanely Good Next to Your Candles

-Love it.  Designer Charles de Lisle Transforms a Crumbling Cabin Into a Seductive Country Retreat

Pictures from the week.

Green pea and Watermelon Radish Salad

We are getting closer and closer to spring (2 weeks!) and with spring comes color, in the form of all things, food included. (I am so ready for all the greens!!!!)

Speaking of color. Have you ever cut open a watermelon radish? It is pure joy. You have this creamy white and slightly green bulb, nothing much out of the ordinary but when you slice it open the inside is the brightest purplish pink. So freaking pretty! But better then pretty, watermelon radishes taste so freaking good! And then we have peas. They are just the best bright green and creamy little gems which pair perfectly prefect with the radish.

Bright purple radish and green peas tossed together with some onion and tahini. Yes and yes. On freaking tasty as all heck salad. A true spring delight!

Now to the pretty as all heck salad!

The stuff. A large watermelon radish, frozen and thawed green peas, red onion, tahini, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper, and aa small handful of cilantro.

First thing is to dice up radish. Cut into cubes about twice the size of a pea.

Place diced rashes on a lined baking sheet and pop into a hot oven.

In the mean time cut up the onion nice an thin.

Place cut onion into a big bowl, add a sprinkle of salt, and add in the vinegar. Toss around and let sit for 5 minutes or so then add in the tahini and toss around until creamy.

Slightly roasted radishes. You can roast them more but I find a good 20 minutes so they are slightly tender and haven’t lost have much color to e the best.

Toss the peas onto the hot sheet pan with the radishes and let them sit for a fe minutes just slightly warm up.

Then dump the peas and radishes into the bowl with the tahini onions. Sprinkle with pepper and toss around.

Look at that. Gorgeous right? And if you have and want, toss some fresh cilantro or parsley onto top because why not.

No stop starting at the how pretty it is and you know, eat it.

-C

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Green pea and Watermelon Radish Salad

serve 2-4 as a side

• 2 cups green peas (fresh or frozen andthawed)

• 1 large (softball sized) watermelon radish

• 1 small red onion

• 3 tablespoons tahini

• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• salt and pwpper

• handful of fresh cilantro or parsley (optional)

Preheat oven to 425.

Grab radish and cut into small cubes about twice the size of a pea. Place on a lined baking sheet and pop into hot oven.

While radishes are roasting, grab onion and slice as thin as you can Place sliced onion along with the vinegar into a big bowl and toss around with a pinch of salt. Let sit for a few minutes then add in the tahini. Toss around until creamy.

After about 20 minutes pull the radishes form oven They should be slightly tender. Dump peas onto baking sheet with radishes and let them warm up for a few minutes.

Dump the peas and radishes into the bowl with the tahini onions. Add black pepper and another small pinch of salt. Toss around until evenly coasted. Top with sm ripped up fresh herbs (if using).

Eat.

Store any leftovers (there will be none) in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

Butternut Squash and Apple Parfait

I have a thing for squash and apples. I roast them together all the time. It is a combination that I never get sick of. I go savory mostly but once in a while I’ll go the slightly sweeter route. This is one of those times. And I also opted to make it seem fancier then my average eating situation (eating with fingers of baking sheet) and added a few steps, and made parfaits out of them. (Parfaits are fancy right?) The result is amazing and maybe even more delicious then ever before. That’s saying something.

Basically what these parfaits consists of is layers of creamy pureed roasted butternut squash and slightly chunky cinnamon applesauce topped with oats and walnuts. That might not sound fancy or even that spectacular but you know when you underestimate something but once you experience it you are very much surprised by how fantastic it really is? Well if you are doubting me then that is what will happen here because this parfait situation even surprised me at how much I loved it.

So if you are in need of a breakfast, lunch, snack, or dessert that will satisfy all of your hunger needs then you should most definitely try this out. It is simple and easy to make, super healthy, can be made ahead or time, and looks cute. (Did I just call a parfait cute? Yes, yes I did.) And again, super freaking delicious of course.

Now to the parfaits!

The stuff. Butternut squash, a couple of big apples, old fashion oats, walnuts, maple syrup, cinnamon, and almond milk.

For the squash you need to roast it so do that. Place on a baking sheet and roast until tender. Once cooked transfer to a blender or jar (if using stick blender) , add in milk or water and blend until smooth. Add in maple to taste.

For apples. Core and chop apples into small pieces and place into a pot with water. Cook on medium heat until apples completely break down. Then either transfer to a blender or use as stick blender and blend until slightly smooth but still a bit chunky. Stir in some cinnamon.

And toast up the oats and walnuts, in the oven, just for 5-8 minutes.

Now assemble. You can do this while the stuff is still warm or wait until it is cold. Delicious either way.

So basically all you do is layer a bit of the squash and then apple a few times in a bowl or jar then top with toasted oats and walnuts. Simple as that.

Ans then you eat it. Or wait and eat it later. Or do what I did and assemble a few jars for the week but then eat all of them in one day. I couldn't stop myself. It was just too freaking good.

-C

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Butternut Squash and Apple parfait

makes 2-3 parfaits

• 3 cups cubed butternut squash

• 2 large apples (I used Macs)

• 1/2-3/4 cups plant milk (or water)

• 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup (optional)

• 1-2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/2 cup old fashion oats

• 1/4 cup walnut pieces

• 1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 425.

Place cubed squash on a lined baking sheet and stick into hot oven and roast until fork tender.

While squash is roasting grab apples, cut and remove core and seeds, chop into smaller pieces and place into a pot with enough water to submerge the apple. Place on medium heat, stirring every few minutes, and cook until the apple starts to break down. If the water evaporates, add in more. When apples are soft and falling apart remove from heat and let cool a few minutes then either transfer to a blender or using a stick blender, blend until less chunky, but not completely smooth. You could also just smash it use with a fork. Add in a teaspoon or so of cinnamon and mix.

Once squash is roasted , remove from a pan and place either in a blender, or a jar or bowl if using a hand blender, add in 1/2 cup milk or water, and blend until smooth. If it seems really thick still, add in more liquid. Also add in maple to taste.

While oven is still hot, place oats and walnuts on baking sheet and place in oven for 5-8 minutes or unit walnuts and oats are toasted.

To assemble parfaits grab a bowl or jar and layer in a bit of squash then apple a few times. Top with some toasted oats and walnuts and sprinkle with more cinnamon and drizzle more maple if you want.

Eat warm or cold. Store left overs in fridge for up to a week.

Maple glazed sweet potato cookies

If you are not making cookies right now then what are you even doing?

But seriously, I think that December is basically a month long cookie baking marathon and we all should be participating by baking up a least one batch of cookies. If not for yourself (although you really should be doing it for yourself) then for others. What better way to say something nice without saying anything at all then with homemade cookies? Cookie sharing is a language all on it’s own.

These here cookies are of the sweet potato kind, almost like pumpkin cookie, just a little less cakey and a little more sweet potatoy and are drizzled all over with a nice thick maple glaze that really just ties the hole cookie experience together. They are pretty simple to make, no extra steps or difficult anything. Just a spoon a scoop and the want and or need for a delicious cookie situation.

This cookie is going back into my baking marathon rotation next week when I go all out and bake like 6 batches of cookies .They were a hit and even requested so, you know, got to make the people happy. More like I have a couple extra sweet potatoes. HA!

Now to the cookies!

The stuff. Mashed sweet potato, flour, baking powder and soda, salt, cinnamon, brown sugar, coconut oil, vanilla, plant milk, powdered sugar, and last but not least, maple syrup.

Start by mixing the dry ingredients together into a big bowl, Then mix the sweet potato, oil, sugar, vanilla, and oh the milk in a separate bowl. Once mixed and completely combined, dump the wet into the dry and gently mix until a combined and dough has formed.

Now scoop equal sizes amounts of dough onto a cookie sheet the pop them into a preheated oven.

Some minutes later they are done. Nic ans golden brown and slightly domed. A little trick I do is once they come out of the oven I right away take two fingers and just slightly push he dome down a bit. It makes the cookies a little less pillowy and more chewy.

And then place them on a wire rack to cool.

In the meantime make the maple glaze. Mix maple and powdered sugar together until completely combined and is thick put still pourable.

Once cookies have cooled, drizzle on the maple glaze. And if you are feeling like it, add a little sprinkle situation. I added gold sparkly granulated sugar. It was a good idea.

As for the rest, you know what to do. Eat. share, eat some more. Do you.

-C

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Maple glazed sweet potato cookies

maskes about 20

• 2 cup all purpose flour

• 1/2 reason baking soda

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 cup sweet potato mash

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/3 cup melted but cooled coconut oil

• 2 tablespoons maple syrup (real shit please )

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar

• 1-2 teaspoons plant milk

Preheat oven to 350

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and powder, salt, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl mix together the sweet potato mash, brown sugar, and coconut oil. Once completely combined add in the vanilla and milk and mix.

Pour wet ingredients into the dry and mix until combined and a dough forms. Scoop equal sized ball of dough and place on a baking sheet. The cookies will expand but not a lot. When the sheet is full, place into preheated oven and bake cookies for 10-12 minutes or unit they have puffed and turned a nice golden brown. Remove cookies from oven and very gently give each cookie a little smoosh, just to get rid of the dome. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

While cookies are cooling make glaze. Mix powdered sugar maple, and 1 teaspoon milk together until completely combined and glaze forms into a thick yet pourable consistency. If it is too thick add in a splash more of milk.

Once cookies are cooled, drizzle on maple glaze. And if you want, add a sprinkle situation before the glaze sets and hardens .

Eat.

Cookies will be good for about a week in an airtight container at room temperature. They also freeze amazingly.

Roasted Celeriac and Squash with Apples and Onions

One of my most favorite root veggie has arrived in the farm share…Celeriac, also know as celery root and nothing has made me happier (with like food stuff)!. I know a lot of people do not know the deliciousness of the root and that makes me a little sad for them, but hopefully this simple little recipe inspires you to go get some and try it. Yeah sure it looks a little crazy, a little gnarly, but what do looks got to do with t? Celeriac taste like the best celery/apple/potato all mixed together but only better. And when it is roasted it gets nice a soft and just so freaking tasty. When I pick up my share, I make sure to get enough celeriac to eat a whole bulb a day.

So now that we all know how amazing celeriac is, we can roast it with some other amazing stuff. Squash, apples, and onions. All tossed together. All roasted til tender. All super delicious on their own but maybe even better together. A easy little dish that is perfect to make for a quiet evening at home, a mid day snack, breakfast, or to place on the table at any holiday meal. It is that versatile and really, you don’t need to have a specific reason to make it, just do. You won’t be sorry.

Now to all the roasted things!

The stuff. A large celeriac bulb, a small kobocha squash, a couple apples, a couple onions, apple cider vinegar, and salt and pepper.

First thing is to cut everything up. Cube the squash, celeriac, and apple to about the same size and the onion just cut into rings.

Toss all the cut up stuff onto a lightly oiled sheet pan, toss with a tablespoon or so vinegar and sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper and place in the oven. Roast for about 1/2 hour, but flipping and drizzling another tablespoon or so of vinegar all over about 20 minutes in.

Roasted and done. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed.

Now scoop it all into big bowl and serve it or just eat it all to your very own face like I did. No shade in that.

-C

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Roasted Celeriac and Squash with Apples and Onions

• 1 large bulb (softball sized) of celeriac

• a small winter squash (can use any variety. I used kabocha)

• 2 medium apples (I used Macs)

• 2 onions. Red, yellow, or one of each

• salt and pepper

• A couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 425

Grab squash and cut in half. Remove seeds then cut into cubes about 1/2 and inch thick. Grab celeriac and peel it if you want (I do not peel it) then cut into cubes the same size ad the squash. Now the apples. Cut in half, remove seeds, and cube. And lastly grab onions and slice into 1/2 thick rings.

Toss together all the cut up stuff and place onto a lightly oiled baking sheet and sprinkle with a couple tablespoons of vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stick the pan into the hot oven and roast for around 20 minutes, removing to give everything a flip and drizzle on another tablespoon of vinegar, then place back in oven for about another 10 minutes or so or until everything is lightly browned and fork tender.

Remove form oven and transfer into a big bowl. Serve right away or at room temperature or heck, it taste freaking awesome cold too.