Wildflowers

Yesterday, I was walking back from our family-owned produce market, Hyde Park Produce, when I heard someone playing music. I followed the sounds to Nichols Park, which I'd never walked through before, and found a band playing the blues while people casually stopped by to listen. I sat by a fountain surrounded by wild roses, and listened for a few moments, then went on my way.

Further into the park, I spotted a wildflower path, where a few people were weeding out the flowers and taking care of the space. I turned and decided to walk through the path. While I was wandering through, one of the women working told me that if I wanted them, I should take a bunch of the beautiful yellow wildflowers they were cutting, that they had too many.

I thanked her with surprise and sincere gratitude, and walked the rest of the way home with a huge bunch of flowers, stems, and leaves bundled in my arms, and a smile on my face. So many people stopped me and commented on my pretty flowers, and they smiled too. It was something I'd never experienced before quite like that.

When I got home, we cut the flowers out of all the brush, and put them in vases. Then we took the rest of the cuttings over to the compost pile in the community garden across the street from us. What a beautiful gift from nature, and from a kind stranger who must have intuited my love for wildflowers!

Ingredients: The Movie

We watched the movie "Ingredients," and it really inspired us to get into the sustainable food movement even more than we already had- beyond Whole Foods, beyond eating healthy, beyond even organic.

This movie does a good job of looking at the relationship between production and consumption, in this case, in the form of the restaurant industry. However, I really internalized the consumption aspect, seeing how supporting farmers is vital to supporting so many things I care about: family business, the earth, the health of the soil, the availability of quality, nutritious food, empowering ourselves against corporate and hierarchical structures, etc., etc.

In this, we see Alice Waters' oft-quoted perspective: that paying higher prices for these things is not a painful reality we accept, but a thing we choose and want to do in order to make every step of this process a worthwhile living choice for everyone involved. If we continue to demand cheaper and cheaper food, we price farmers out of making a living. More than that, we discourage those who might otherwise choose this career as a passion, an art (which then increases quality and intention of good) from pursuing this life.

However, if we offer good, fair prices, we increase the odds that passionate, talented people will pursue a way of life in farming in a way that supports a healthier economy (one that challenges corporate, detached ways of life), a healthier planet, and a healthier population.

After watching this movie, we decided to dedicate ourselves even more to what we believe in: we will be composting (WITH WORMS) in the apartment, we will be seeking out local foods in the form of farmers markets and CSA's, we will be structuring our menus around what is seasonally and locally available (which is a fun and welcome challange to my creativity), and we will be in general more sustainably-minded.

Don't get me wrong; we still bought some lemons and limes, and even an avocado (things that CLEARLY do not grow in Illinois!) for our menu. But, as a wise mentor has always impressed upon me, every little thing you do makes a difference. We hope that every step we take to dedicate ourselves to what we believe in will make us feel more purposeful and excited about, well, life! I'm certainly excited about the new challenges in cooking!

I realize that not everyone has the resources we have in Chicago, and that our resources will become vastlty more scant in the coming winter months. But, again, every little effort to eat what's in season, or grow your own herb garden on the windowsill, is something towards taking the power from forces outside of ourselves (namely, the food industry), and empowering ourselves.

More to come, especially on the worms!

Cooking Channel Seasonal Recipe Finder!

This is so cool! Cookingchanneltv.com has a recipe finder for produce that's in season! I'm not necessarily endorsing the recipes (but anything Jamie Oliver does is always good!), but at the very least, it's a good tool to find out what actually IS in season right now.

Just go to: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/index.html and look on the right side toward the bottom in the box "In Season Now."

So cool!

Raspberry Pots de Creme

Well, here it is! I tried this recipe by Giada de Laurentiis that I mentioned before, and we LOVED it. Plus, it was super easy to make and didn't require crazy/expensive ingredients. But by far the best part about this recipe is that I got to buy and legitimately use RAMEKINS!

Check out the recipe here:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/raspberry-rose-pots-de-creme-recipe/index.html

I halved the recipe and made it for two- it was perfect. It still bakes and sets for exactly the same time. It's not too much and not too sweet. And the rosewater (the only kind of weird ingredient- unless you're a hippy like me, in which case you always have a bottle lying around) is pretty unnecessary. I couldn't even really taste it. But I still like the idea of it!

It's an impressive-looking and -sounding dessert. Plus, now that I have myself a pair of RAMEKINS!, I can now venture into the world of souffles and who knows what else! The world of cooking is now my oyster...

Ciao Bella Blood Orange Sorbet Bars

Today, it was 60 degrees here in Chicago! This is very exciting- it's been about 4 or 5 months since we've seen a temperature like that, and coming from Vegas, that's just plain sinful! I thought spring might never come...

But it did today. And while I unfortunately spent the first part of this gorgeous day in bed not feeling well, thankfully I began to feel much better in the afternoon. A walk in the much-needed warm sunshine was just what the doctor ordered.

I ambled up the street to our little produce market to get some things for a Raspberry Rose Pots de Creme (a link to this recipe will be posted at some point if it works out as well as it sounds), and I came across these little gems:



We were so impressed! They're not cheap (we paid $5.49 for a box of 3), but for a treat once in a while, they're amazing. And they're only 60 calories a pop (literally!). My honey is a HUGE fan of blood oranges (which I proudly introduced him to), and he has very particular tastes when it comes to blood-orange-flavored things. And he loved them.

They're fresh, they're fun, and they're very naturally and authentically flavored. A great match for spring!

Chocolate Banana Cardamom Cake

So call me competitive... I heard of a girl who made a Banana Cardamom cake, and I had to admit, it was a good idea. The only problem was: I didn't come up with it first! So, what could I do but improve upon her idea? Add a little chocolate and- voila! Genius!

Ingredients

Milk Chocolate Cake Mix (I used Duncan Hines)
3 eggs
1/2 cup MINUS 1 Tbsp mashed ripe banana
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp cardamom powder
1 1/4 C water
(follow the directions on the cake mix box, but exchange all but 1 Tbsp of the oil for banana. Ex: if your cake mix says to use 1/3 C oil, then use 1/3 C mashed banana, minus 1 Tbsp, and 1 Tbsp oil)
chocolate frosting
1/4 c pecans, chopped


Directions

1. Mash the banana well, and measure out 1/2 c. Then take 1 Tbsp out and discard.

2. Put all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Don't beat eggs first. Mix really well- an electric hand mixer works best.

3. Grease and flour 2- 9 inch cake pans (I LOVE the new Pam cooking spray with flour already added)

4. Pour the batter in the pans and follow the baking directions for your cake mix. I baked mine in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, if your pecans are not toasted, toast the pieces lightly for a few minutes over a low-medium flame in a saute pan.

6. Take the cake out when a toothpick comes out clean in the middle.

7. When FULLY COOLED, frost the cake with the chocolate frosting.

8. Sprinkle the top with pecans.

This cake has a unique flavor because of the cardamom, and the banana actually makes the cake really moist. It also replaces over 600 calories of oil with about 120 calories of banana, so it's healthy to boot!

This would be an impressive dessert to serve to your worldly, sophisticated guests!

Blame it on Fidel

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm writing about another French movie...

Blame it on Fidel is a little more lively than some of the cinema Francais I've seen lately, mainly because the protaganist is a nine-year-old girl, Anna. Anna is dealing with the loss of her old, comfortable middle class life when her parents decide to take on new roles and jobs to support causes they believe in- Allende in Chile, and the women's lib movement in 1970 Paris.

The beauty of the movie is that nowhere along the way does the movie advertise a certain point of view. In fact, it explores the perspectives of Communism, Feminism, Catholicism, Greek mythology, Asian mythology, and various other philosophies. This might frustrate and confuse the average American movie viewer, but I always prefer a question mark to a period (or an exclamation mark) in these cases.

The movie, then, becomes about how we piece together our own philosophies, how we manage to meld things that sometimes clash, and how we deal with finding out the diasppointing truth about idealism. In this movie, as in life, there are no absolutes, and the right answers are only right if they're right for you.

It is, quite simply, beautifully and impressively done, and I love that all of this difficult material is dealt with through the eyes of a little girl. Because in the end, I think we all deal with these issues with the same naive, grudging, curious, and opinionated gusto as our heroine, Anna.

A nice thought-provoking look inside ourselves and our own worldviews. And it's on Netflix instant watch right now. Yay French movies!

Threads for Thought

Who wouldn't love to wear soft, comfy organic clothing all the time? I know I would!

But where do you find practical, cute, stylish, AND affordable organic clothing?

Why, here at Threads for Thought! You can order online or shop your local health food store or Whole Foods. The clothes are super comfy, and at $12 a pop, I have 3 long sleeved shirts and 1 $8 short-sleeved shirt that I love to wear all the time- going out, at work, lounging around, practicing yoga, even sleeping :) I love how soft they feel, and knowing that they're the purest clothes I own.

T4T is a lovely company with a wonderful, much-needed product.

New Favorite Yoga Video!

I recently found a GREAT new yoga video on Netflix Instant Watch: Crunch Candlelight Yoga. At first glance it looks a bit cheap and cheesy, but when I sat down and gave it a chance, it was the best yoga video I've seen yet.

The routine is very gentle, with an encouraging and informative instructor. The stretches and poses are relaxing, yet still deep and challenging, with the focus on the breath, as it should be.

I'll be doing this video a few times a week, and I'll be sure to buy it so I'll have it when it goes off of Instant Watch.

It's also available for download to rent or own on Amazon here. Check it out!

Esperanza Spalding | Little Fly

The almighty Esperanza Spalding- the woman who dared to be so much more than mediocre to "upset" Justin Bieber's anticipated Grammy win...

A self-taught and university trained naturally talented and experimetal musician, Spalding is the freshest new artist Grammy winnner since Norah Jones- but even deeper, more artistic, and more mind-expanding.

Thank God not all of music is made of the flat, shallow sure-fire hit kind of empty crap that dominates the industry.

Giada's Lemon Thyme Bars

Lemon Thyme Bars on the Food Network

Amazing! This dish boasts so many virtues: lots of butter, thyme in a dessert, and it's super-easy!

We had them for breakfast today. I do have to emphasize Giada's directions to let them cool and let the glaze set. It makes a big difference.

Lavender Brownies

Lavender is one of my favorite herbs. The smell is so relaxing, and the blossoms are such a delightful light purple color, even when dried.

But lavender is also a great culinary item. It does taste slightly flowery, but also has a bit of a minty, menthol flavor as well, which is much less striking than its scent.


One of my favorite combos is lavender and dark chocolate, so the other night I thought, why not brownies?

And they were delicious! I just added about 1 tsp dried lavender flowers, chopped, to my store-bought dark chocolate brownie mix, and voila! A fresh, unique, exotic flavor. IN CHOCOLATE!

*note: use only lavender flowers meant for cooking, not for potpourri, as this is usually scented with extra fragrance. Check out your local health food store to see if they stock bulk herbs.

Love, Love, Love!

Found a new favorite Etsy shop!

Summer Hours

One of the very best places I like to go when I need to find a comforting, uplifting sense of inspiration is tucked away inside a good warm movie.

That's right, a movie. More on It's Complicated's lavender honey ice cream, Amelie's lovely slip, and The Kids Are All Right's locally grown salads later.

Right now I want to talk about Summer Hours, a lovely, quiet French movie that focuses on family, on how art is treated in today's world, and questions the care the future generations will (or will not) take of the rich culture of the past.




For me, the movie asked other important questions, every day questions like: where does art belong? Where do flowers belong? The answer: surrounding us, as part of us, as an intrinsic part of our lives, homes, and even legacies.




And the definition of what art is precious? The art that speaks to us, no matter how lauded and invaluable it isn't. In the movie, important pieces of art are given to a museum, while a family salvages its true treasures: a beat-up teapot, or a vase you always reach for to put your flowers in.



And what flowers do you put in the vase? Wildflowers you collect from the woods, of course. Wild, gnarly, woody flowers. In every room.




Beautiful, muted colors and beautiful, muted stories amidst the backdrop of the French countryside- who could ask for more?

It's on instant watch right now!

Bath Bombs

Try one of these little lovelies...

Oo La La... a little milky foam, organic lightly scented goodness!

Check out Hugo Naturals

So many scents to choose from:

•Eucalyptus Rosemary & Mint
•Grapefruit Orange
•Guaiacwood & Bergamot
•Lavender Chamomomile
•Lavender Vanilla
•Rose Sandalwood *my personal fav!
•Sea Fennel Passionflower

Simple Dinner

Sometimes I don't come home smiling, laughing, and loving life. Sometimes I come home dragging my feet, yawning, and complaining. And as much as I love cooking, it's those very times when I just want a simple meal to create for the night.

Tonight was one of "those" nights, so I made one of my favorite easy fixes: Baked salmon, penne pesto, and roasted aspragus. There are lots of health benefits here- Omega 3s! Fiber! Vitamins and minerals! Sanity!

Here's how:

Salmon

1/2 lb. salmon filet
1 tsp dried thyme (or 2 tsp fresh)
1/4 tsp sea salt
dash black pepper
olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 425 degress. Place a large square of aluminum foil in a shallow baking pan. Drizzle about a Tbsp olive oil in the center of the foil. Place the salmon on top of the oil drizzle.

2. Drizzle another Tbsp or so olive oil on top of the salmon filet, and then sprinkle the salt and pepper over top. Sprinkle the thyme on top of that.

3. Fold over the sides of the aluminum foil until you've created a pocket around the salmon. Cook the salmon in the oven for about 20-25 mins.

4. Uncover the salmon, serve, and smile!

Penne Pesto

Whole Wheat Penne
Pesto in a jar (I know it's cheating, but Trader Joe's Basil Pesto is quick, easy,
and better than any homemade pesto I've found)
Grape tomatoes, halved

1. Boil a big pot of water with some sea salt in it. Use a lot of water so the pasta
has plenty of room to cook.
2. Cook the pasta in the boiling water. Note: Whole wheat usually takes a few minutes
longer than regular- but it's higher in fiber and complex carbs!
3. Drain the pasta. Add the pesto and the grape tomato halves and toss.
4. Sprinkle anything over top you'd like: fresh basil, pine nuts, bacon pieces, or
grated parmesan- but just pick one, you don't want to overwhelm the already
flavorful pesto

Roasted Asparagus

1 bunch asparagus
olive oil
sea salt
pepper

The asparagus can go in the same 425 degree oven with the salmon (how easy does it
get?!)

1. Cut off about 1/2 inch of the bottom of the asparagus spears.

2. Drizzle a Tbsp or so olive oil all over the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Spread the asparagus out evenly over the dish.

3. Drizzle another Tbsp or so olive oil over the asparagus spears and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

4. Cook in the oven for 15-20 mins, or until it reaches your desired doneness (some people like it crispier, some like it more cooked)

And that's it! I love this dinner with a light Pinot Grigio and a good TV show (but you didn't hear that from me!)

Tulips!

I never thought much about tulips before. I used to be one of those boring roses type of girls... but then my sweetie got me some beautiful powder-pink tulips for last Valentine's Day, and my heart melted a little. Soon after, we watched The Botany of Desire, a beautiful and inspiring look at our inter-connectedness to nature, in which the tulip plays a starring role (check it out!). Yep, in the last year or so, I've really developed quite any affinity.


Tulips come in so many colors and varieties, and they are inexpensive to boot. So, buy one of these sweet flowers for someone special just because, or to brighten your kitchen table. You won't be disappointed!

Baths, Glorious Baths

I am an anxious person; this is not a shocking confession to anyone who knows me at any intimate level. So, I find myself needing to discover ways to relax, and one of my absolute favorite ways to do this is with the good old-fashioned bath.

I turn off the lights in the bathroom and light a couple of candles and some Nag Champa incense. Then I draw a bath with water that is just barely hotter than I can stand (which, for me, is steam-coming-off-your-arms hot). When the water is about 2/3 of the way full, I add:

Sea Salt



Essential Oils (for relaxation, absolutely use a blend with lavender)



-Note: don't ever pay for over-priced bath salts. You can get the same thing, even more naturally, with just 1/4 c of sea salt and 10 drops of essential oil-

Then I get in and I soak... and soak... and soak. I love to put my feet up and feel the soothing heat of the water, my face pulsating, my blood circulating, watching the steam rise. And this is one of the best ways I have found to stave off my insomnia, to boot.

My muscles and my mind relax, and my stress vaporizes with the steam.

After, I always make sure I drink plenty of water so I don't dehydrate, and maybe follow up with a little chamomile tea.

Cheers!

Guest Basket

We were recently charmed with a visit from a very close friend, and I wanted more than anything to show her how happy we were to have her in our home.

If we had an extra bedroom, I would have laid out some clean linens, presented a simple, fresh vase of flowers on the nightstand, blah blah blah.

But all I had to work with was an air mattress in the living room. So I decided to create a basket with some small welcoming comforts.

Here are some things I included:

Natural travel-size shampoo and conditioner (Kiss My Face and Avalon are my favs)


Lavender travel-size lotion (Kiss My Face, again)


A travel-size bar of natural lavender soap (lavender is for relaxation)


An organic dark chocolate bar (make sure to get 70% cacao)


A short novel for reading



Other things you can include:
a razor and/or toothbrush for a longer stay (or at least keep an extra on hand)
a list of your favorite spots to visit in town
a map of your city and/or public transportation maps
a bottle of water, iced tea, or even a mini bottle of wine

Put them all in a fun basket, and your visitor will feel right at home!

Demiurgic Dames

In the middle of winter, when Lake Michigan looks like the Arctic Sea and walking from a parking spot to a restaurant in 10 degree weather is so daunting that we're sampling yet another pizza delivery place, books become a lifeline for us.

This is truly a silver lining, as in Vegas we had lamented those rainy days spent drinking tea and losing ourselves in a good book. Dreams of rain have turned to snow, but it's the same book-lovin' gray to us, and we are both finally reading again.

Thus, my discovery of two fun women writers' short story collections. Bright, lively, fresh, and likely to make one blush at times, these gals have injected some color into my short winter days.

Alissa Nutting, a fellow Las Vegan, has recently come out with a story collection with a great title: Unclean Jobs for Women and Girls, which explores many of the areas in a woman's life that rarely get discussed in such a novel, honest, and hilarious fashion: our need to be needed, our need to be desired, and much, much, more. These stories stretch your imagination, make you laugh, and demand that you dig deep.

Similarly, Miranda July's No One Belongs Here More Than You explores well-hidden parts of humanity that tend to seep out into our larger existences, sometimes without our noticing. These stories have a sweet, simple lesson: you are okay.

I look for creative inspiration everywhere, especially in the cold, dark months where it can be difficult to find. Right now these books have lent themselves as my companions while I write and submit my own blogs and poems, cook like crazy, and add to the beauty and self-expression of our home.

Thanks, ladies!

Le Moustache

Inspiration comes from the most unlikely places sometimes... Lately, I can't help but notice that iconic facial hair everywhere- on the young guys at work, on my wine, while shopping online for dresses. Perhaps I'm getting delirious from cabin fever since my recent relocation to Chicago from Fabulous Las Vegas, but the mustache just makes me smile.

Check out these mustache lollipops at Etsy...

And this mustache wine...

Even the Cafe Mustache in Chicago!

They're everywhere, and they bring a little bit of panache to my first gray winter here in Chicago.