In my Kitchen ~ December

 Healthy Food Mania continues...  I'm still working on lowering my cholesterol which is hard because there is chocolate everywhere. I'm just kind of rolling with it.

 I'm crazy for overnight oatmeal, a half a cup of steel cut oats, a cup of almond milk, a banana and a glorious mix of whatever else is delicious that I can find. Here I've added raspberries, chia seeds, shredded coconut, pepitas, and a spoonful of cocoa powder. I'll eat half tomorrow and the rest the next day. So easy and I swear it's addicting.

The local farmer's market still has a few berries left. They aren't as sweet as August's but they are still pretty good. I cut them up and keep a bag in the freezer.

I cut up my first butternut squash to make soup. I still have all my fingers too, but just barely. Someone should invent a guillotine for winter squash. It was worth it. The soup was good.

Pears can either be woody and horrible or taste like heaven and all the angels. This one was sweet and juicy.

Still baking sourdough. I always split the loaf with my sister, who is a bread lover.

I tried steaming a packet of veg in parchment paper. It sounded so easy, wrap up the veggies with some water, fold to seal the edges, bake in the oven. Doesn't it look pretty? Look at all those colors. It tasted nasty, like someone raided the plastic food from a daycare play kitchen. I don't know why, maybe I didn't let it bake long enough.

It was a major disappointment because I'm always looking for ways to prep my vegetarian food ahead of time so I get more than a microwaved baked potato for dinner while everyone else is eating roast chicken. Maybe I need more seasoning, swap out the water for white wine, try adding garlic and chili. Suggestions, anyone?

I have been getting good dishes from this cookbook. Tons of veggies, people, I'm not kidding.... you'll feel like Peter Rabbit eating his way through Mister McGregor's garden with this book.

 

Clean Green Eats

 

 I've made the Rainbow Chard with apples and onions twice now. So easy, red onion, chard and apples sauteed and finished off with lemon juice and sunflower seeds.

 

I also learned how to make almond butter. It's fifteen bucks a jar at the market. I made this for less than half that.  

Here's the recipe...

1. Put a bunch of almonds in the food processor.

2. Push the button until it it looks like peanut butter.

3. Put your buttery delicious almond butter in a jar. Lick the spoon and think about how you just made Martha Stewart look like a wuss.

4. Put your jar in the fridge and feel smug and self satisfied.

 

 Christmas came early here. The hub finished building a Morris chair for the living room.

 

He also made me a  curly maple tea tray.

  

After ten years and thousands of cups of tea our old teapot was looking like it had been in a bar fight. So I bought a new one, a "proper" Brown Betty just like the old one.

 

 The cats have been helping with the festivities by getting out the wrapping paper. 

 

That's about all that's been going on in my kitchen.  Christmas cookie-less January is right around the corner so I'm enjoying a little of everything chocolate now. Mmmm, chocolate. 

May your days be merry and bright,

Marilyn.

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PS If you are looking for a nice present for someone special, my new book, A Year In The Secret Garden is on sale on Amazon.

A Year In the Secret Garden

Discover the joys of delving into this timeless children’s literature classic and see the Secret Garden through new eyes and a modern twist! Kids and nature go hand-and-hand while enjoying the bounty that the great outdoors brings is not just a “summer thing.” A Year in the Secret Garden is a delightful children’s book with over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for your family and friends to enjoy, learn, discover and play with together. Grab your copy ASAP for the Holiday Book Sale price of $15.00 .

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