Summer in Santa Monica- and a recipe round-up

Farmers' market beauty in Santa Monica.

The first notes from our 

Santa Monica summer sublet:

After living in the brittle high dessert of Northern New Mexico for three years, I am drunk on oxygen. I walk Ocean Avenue cradled in moisture, intoxicated, breathing deep. And although we sleep seventeen blocks from the Pacific, I smell the ocean in the sheets. I wake with the sensation, the awareness of the sea. It infuses the day with an unnameable pleasure I can almost taste. If I could live on air I would eat the on-shore breeze with a spoon.

Steve has found his own source of bliss at Caffe Luxxe on Montana Avenue. Rich, caramel Italian espresso with the perfect artful brush of creamy foam. If further persuasion is needed to lure him into staying here, I only need to whisper, “Una bella tazza” and he'll be putty in my hands.

Things are looking up.

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Garden Pictures

GARDEN PICTURES

I thought I'd give anyone that is interested some more pictures of my first ever try and growing my own food. So far I've done well, at least for my first try. I have come across many different problems and tried to deal with them. Not always have I been able to but my plants seem to be surviving well and producing food to eat. I've harvested the spinach a few times now and got quite a lot from it. Unortunately it looks like its going to seed (bolting) because it's growing taller and just looks different. Can anyone confirm this is what's happening?


The broccoli are starting to flower, so I can see the broccoli head forming from the centre of the plant (yay!), Carrots are ready to harvest so I'll pull those before end of week, and I'm just about to go and transplant some strawberry plants after this post. Some i'll keep in pots though.

My Cherry tomato plants. These are the ones I look after the most. Out of everything the most important plants for me are the strawberry an tomato plants. So these get extra attention to make sure they produce a lot of fruit.

Why not try a garden youself? If you're on a healthy CRON diet then its probably one of the best things you can possibly do to improve the shopping bills by just a little, and also get the benefits of home grown healthy organic foods. Even if it's like a few plants in pots, still worth it :)

Gluten-Free Strawberry Cobbler Cake

Dear Gluten-Free Goddess,

Not another strawberry recipe. Please. And a cake recipe at that? Pfffft. I've had it with all your so called strawberry deliciousness. Will you just get over it already? (What do you think this is, strawberry season?) I'm totally bored with the whole strawberry thing. Good Gracious Lord In Heaven.

Where the bleep are the broccolini recipes? The watercress and sardine tarts? The marinated scapes, head cheese, and tripe? Where's your squid ink linguini recipe? And croissants! I can't find them anywhere.

And must I beg you for boutique bean recipes? You of all people- living in your precious New Mexico desert. Or have you moved to Hollyweird now (that figures). I need boutique heirloom bean recipes. I need my daily local vegan fiber, if you get my drift.

Hmm? None of the above?

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Fifty Five Things I've Learned in 55 Years

Last December, my blogging amiga Kalyn posted a list for her birthday: Sixty Things I've Learned in Sixty Years. Like so many readers, friends and fellow food bloggers, I was inspired by her post. So as birthday number fifty-five (fifty-five? how is that possible?) sat on the horizon as opaque and huge as June Gloom in Los Angeles, I was inspired to write my own list of hard won wisdom. Just to cheer myself up. And shake some cobwebs loose. Fifty-five just scares the pants off me, I gotta confess.

Fifty Five Things I've Learned 

in 55 Years

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A Little Tidbit

I'm gearing up for a new series of posts based on some fascinating reading I've been doing lately. I'm not going to spill the beans, but I will give you a little hint, from a paper written by Dr. Robert S. Corruccini, professor of anthropology at Southern Illinois university. I just came across this quote and it blew me away. It's so full of wisdom I can't even believe I just read it. The term "occlusion" refers to the way the upper and lower teeth come together, as in overbite or underbite.

Similar to heart disease and diabetes which are "diseases of civilization" or "Western diseases" (Trowell and Burkitt, 1981) that have attained high prevalence in urban society because of environmental factors rather than "genetic deterioration," an epidemiological transition (Omran, 1971) in occlusal health accompanies urbanization.

Western society has completely crossed this transition and now exists in a state of industrially buffered environmental homogeneity. The relatively constant environment both raises genetic variance estimates (since environmental variance is lessened) and renders epidemiological surveys largely meaningless because etiological factors are largely uniform. Nevertheless most occlusal epidemiology and heritability surveys are conducted in this population rather than in developing countries currently traversing the epidemiological transition.

In other words, the reason observational studies in affluent nations haven't been able to get to the bottom of dental/orthodontic problems and chronic disease is that everyone in their study population is doing the same thing! There isn't enough variability in the diets and lifestyles of modern populations to be able to determine what's causing the problem. So we study the genetics of problems that are not genetic in origin, and overestimate genetic contributions because we're studying populations whose diet and lifestyle are homogeneous. It's a wild goose chase.

That's why you have to study modernizing populations that are transitioning from good to poor health, which is exactly what Dr. Weston Price and many others have done. Only then can you see the true, non-genetic, nature of the problem.

Gluten-Free Millet Buckwheat Wraps

Gluten-free wraps- an easy recipe with millet and buckwheat flours.

What's keeping us fortified during our transition from the wild desert of northern New Mexico to the cool big blue of the Pacific? In a word, wraps. We're munching Lime Quinoa Salads, leftover Veggie Garden Loaf, stir-fry veggies and quinoa, and sandwich fillings in these handy, tasty beauties. They sustained us as we whittled down our food supply, making both lunch and dinner easy as pie. I froze a dozen for the road, thinking that in a pinch, I could always buy a salad to stuff inside.

They're completely fabulous hot off the griddle. The best. I could scarf them down bare, without adornment. In fact, I started with a basic crepe recipe when I was developing this wrap recipe. Which is why they're pliable, tender and delicious. Unfortunately, they're also fragile after day one- a problem I am working on. But if you freeze them right away, snugging rounds of wax paper in between each wrap, they thaw easily and remain fresh enough- though slightly less flexible.

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6 months Raw

SIX MONTHS EATING HIGH RAW!

As I stated in January, I decided that I would try eating MORE raw food than steamed or cooked vegetables, with the exceptions of some veggies being better blended or cooked for nutrient absorption, one exasmple being tomato cooked so that I can get more Lycopene. I noticed differences in my skin, my digestion has been the best it's ever been in my life (green smoothies helped here a lot), I also noticed more energy. I have no intention of going fully 100% Raw, this is neither practical for me, or nececsary in my opinion. I notice that some foods tend to help my skin more than others, as in I will notice the effect by the next day. I find thatthat blueberries, Mango and pineapple help a lot and I see the effects within the next day. However it doesn't matter what you eat if you don't get enough sleep. Probably one of the most important things in keeping skin fresh.

I'm going to continue with the Green Smoothies, Seriously, I cannot get over just how amazing the green smoothie I have tastes (see the post just below). I did have some people express their opinion about glucose spikes and stuff while drinking the smoothies. I don't it will be a problem... I'm getting loads of fibre, protein and fat at the same time. So we'll see on my next round of blood tests. Then that will be the basis for my decision to continue with the smoothies or let go. Right now its incredibly convenient because you can take them to work, to friends, or even take them out with you to drink during the day in flask or whatever

So anyway today I just had a mostly relaxing day, done a bit of work in the garden, and noticed the tomato plants have flowers on them now. Unfortunately I might have to spray them, and I'll do another post on that. I also just compiled for my other CR website a bunch of photos from my ad lib to CR to CR:RAW which I'll share just below.

I'm also now consistently doing yoga 4-5 days a week for 45 minutes per session. I'm really working hard on this to get all my flexibility back. Hopefully it's not going to take to long. Some days when I don't feel like doing Yoga I just simply think about what I can achieve later on, and this drives me to just DO IT, and stop making excuses why I shouldn't. So far so good, I'm progressing well already :) When I get good I'll be happy to post some photos and/or videos of that. But since I'm still new to it myself that wont be for quite a while.

BECOME YOUNGER

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Vegan Celery Soup with Ryeless Rye Croutons

A creamy celery soup that is dairy-free and gluten-free? Indeed.

By the time you read this new soup recipe, we'll be well on our way to Southern California. It will Monday, you see (it is Monday, right?). It will be bright and early. And we'll be waving our coffee fueled good-byes to piney Flagstaff, Arizona, the infamous gateway to the Grand Canyon (inspiration for Steve's movie) where we stayed overnight. We'll be up with the chickens, Honda packed with gluten-free treats, hitting Route 40 West for the second leg of the trip.

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A Vegan Basil Mint Parsley "Pesto"

Fresh, raw vegan pesto. Yep. You heard me.

We're getting so close to our departure now I can taste it. The house is swept and cleaned, boxes and bags are packed. Anticipation is hanging in the desert air. You can almost hold it in your cupped open hands. The hardest part will be trying to sleep Saturday night. I told Steve, If it's 3 AM and we're lying side by side in the dark listening to the whir of the ceiling fan, just waiting, can we get up and go? 

Why not? he responded.

This earned him some extra bonus points.

Not that he needs any. His bonus point status is pretty high to begin with these days. We've had an exciting week. I'm so proud of him. His first script sale, an independent movie titled The Canyon just released its first trailer. If you'd like to catch a sneak peek at the movie, see The Canyon trailer here. You'll see why I fell in love with Yvonne Strahovski and Will Patton when we visited the set.

So what does all this California dreamin' taste like? I decided it tastes like basil and mint with a bite of parsley. 

Green. Earthy. Alive.

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Roasted Sicilian Potatoes

Roasted potato love- Italian style.

Here's an easy, vegan summer side dish recipe you can bake or grill in foil packets. It's an intuitive toss-together combo of potatoes, onion, garlic, tomatoes, olives and raisins--- with some hot pepper flakes thrown in to kick it up Sicilian style. I don't even know where the inspiration came from.

It all started with cleaning out the pantry.

We're leaving on our long pined-for road trip next Sunday (can you say, Stoked, Babycakes?). I've been trying to use up the remaining lonely bits of our fresh ingredients and whittle down our stash of friendly staples. I'm determined to scour the cupboards bare. One way or another. I'm leaving no can of fire roasted tomatoes behind. Or bags of organic popcorn. Whatever is left standing next Saturday night? It's all coming with me. Because deep in the cockles of my private tiny girl heart, I am not coming back. Nope. Not even to say good-bye.

So if you spy a black Honda Fit humming its little heart out, streaking across the Southwestern desert on its journey to Los Angeles stuffed with homebaked vegan goodies (translation: Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins, Gluten-Free Ryeless Rye Bread, Chocolate Pecan Brownies, Lime Quinoa Salad with Mint, Two Potato Salad) and gluten-free comestibles (translation: several pounds of rice pasta, three boxes of quinoa, two sacks each of millet flour, sorghum flour, and tapioca starch, five jars of sugar-free organic preserves, one unopened bottle of Annie's ketchup, a shoebox packed with a baker's dozen bottles of dried herbs, sea salt, cumin and sesame seeds), well.

That would be, me.

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Quinoa Recipe with Summer Vegetable Stir-Fry

Delicious quinoa stir-fry with summer vegetables.

Easy. Easy. Easy.

Trying to find a Los Angeles sublet for the summer- within our budget- is as slippery and twisted as charting Madonna's romantic liaisons post Guy Ritchie. It's a serpentine endeavor, this whole reading between the lines thing, deciphering what is true and what is only mostly true. It's all those key buzz words peppering Craig's List and Westside Rentals. "Convenient to the 10" can mean the eastern bedroom window sucks in freeway exhaust during rush hour. "Pet friendly" might translate to everyone in the building works all day and leaves their poor pooches to yap and woof until the cows come home. Which, as we all know, in LA is after sushi and mojitos.

"Cozy studio" can mean cute and comfy or it can mean as cramped and tight as a walk-in closet. Not Madonna's closet(s). I'm sure hers are bi-coastal and coordinated by era, each epoch's collection larger than our entire casita. We're talking my closet here. The five foot black hole currently crammed with winter parkas, too many mismatched socks to count, and the book-filled boxes I'm storing for this alleged, yet-to-materialize summer getaway.

And the price for the privilege of said 150 square feet of space in Venice Beach?

If you have to ask, Darling, you can't afford it. Which as it turns out, is a moot detail anyway, because no one on Craig's List ever answers your e-mails (especially when they notice your out of town area code). So here we sit. Grazing the Internet till the migraines kick in, picking through rentals beyond our budget, hoping for an affordable hidden gem amongst the inflated glut of summer housing in Los Angeles. Unless we're looking for a roommate. We could afford one room. Shared bath. With a UCLA student.

So what am I cooking during all this rental drama, you impatiently ask as I ponder our next move?

That would be quinoa.

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In the garden

Another Garden update. I have transplated almost all the plants in their best places (after observing the sun and shadows during different times). Everything seem fine, no transplant shock or any signs of the plant not taking well. The tomatoes are now at the side of my house, 3 of them planted near the trellis to the left and 1 on the right side near the green house and I believe these are getting 11 hours sun at the moment, and one in the garden box because it was the only spot that receieved 7+ hours of sun, the rest of the time its shaded by the palm trees we have. The cherry tomato plants below look smaller than they were but I was told to plant them further down for best results, even if it coveres some of the leaves. Strawberry plants to the left, still small... I wish I had started this one earlier but next year I'll make sure I do. I have to get containers for some other strawberry plants. I have 7 of them this year, maybe more next year from the runners.







The broccoli is doing well now, but I might have a problem with crowding. I don't think the roots are that deep with these plants so I might try moving one of them so they're spaced out a bit. I think that wont hur the plant, or will it?







My 2nd garden box is coming along now, the spinach this time hasn't really been touched because we put a netting over the top with has very small holes in, slugs proably wont fit through the holes. We also have beer trap and found quite a few dead slugs by the tomato trees (in the plastic cups) and by the mint. The cover can't go over the whole box because of the tomato plant, but it it covers most of it at least, and its only a short term solution. I'm looking at getting some sort of copper tape or something. Apparently that works by shocking the slugs.





There did look there were more spinach in the box, it really grew a lot within a short space of time. So I harvested some spinach for a smoothie and threw away the really damaged leaves as I didn't really feel like eating them. They were quite destroyed and had some slug slime over them or something lol. With the slug issue sorted (I think), hopefully my next harvest of the plants I took leaves from will be good. The carrots are doing well, I seem to have managed to get away with sowing the seeds in March is I recall correctly, they did survive, and the leaves above the carrots are growing taller all thet time. Within 2 weeks I might see if I can feel around in the earth to see if I have some decent size carrots to eat. Something made me laugh last night when I read a post on "when you know you should harvest carrots", and one of the first answers was "when your local rabbits pays your garden a visit" lol. What was funny about that was there was a rabbit that we been trying to catch in my garden for the last couple days, it's a small black rabbit from next door which must have escaped and gone under the fence. Anyway, rabbit problem sorted :)



Some new plants below such as african blue basil near the frence, the pot on the left of that is a strawberry plant, and to the right of the basil is my mint plant which is now recovering very well and looking healthier. To the rightof that near the palm trees there is a plant which I don't know what it is, I just thought i'd save it from my aunte who doesn't want the thing.







All together not so bad for my first attempt, still more things to do that I didn't get around to. I didn't manage to get the apple trees because of lack of work recently, but thats okay. I thought I best stick to a small variety this year and then next year I'll think about growing much more variety of foods. I know I'll be far more prepared early next year.



Anyway thats all for now. Maybe this year, but definitely next year I hope to get a good video camera so I can talk on video and can show the garden, answer any questions, give me opinions of things etc etc... should be fun.

What I ate today

I haven't really done an update on what exactly I eat these days. So I thought I'd give you an idea of just a snap shot of one day.

I wake up and have my Whey Protein drink with my vitamins and minerals and a bit of fish oil, and have a handful of walnuts (15-20g). I then consume my breakfast which is a 'Green Smoothie'. Ingredients today was simple; 160g of baby spinach, 170g of ripe mango (delicious and one of my faves at the moment!), 1 red apple, a ripe banana, 80g of blueberries. The mango really come through and was the most dominant taste and it made it have a lush creamy texture, the blueberries went in last because they were frozen and it makes the drink nice and cold (you can just use ice though). I love this one because its not too complicated, very quick, it takes literally 5 minutes or less! With a good blender it comes out good, also if someone is going to copy this make sure you add about 200-300ml water otherwise you burn out your blender or something. Decrease or increase water of the drink to how you like it. Honestly, its a real treat every morning. Everytime I make this one my nephew loves to consume loads of it. So thats pretty much most of the fruit calories for the day. My breakfast can sometimes come to about 600 k/cal so this is upto almost 1/3rd of my total calorie intake for the day.

At around 12-1pm I usually have something small, so today I just cut up 150g of cherry tomatoes, microwaved them, spread across very lightly toasted wholemeal bread with 5ml olive oil added. Then just put a bit of garlic on and tomato sauce (low sugar and salt one).

About 5pm I then ate Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, small sweet potato, olive oil, and a fat free yeo organic strawberry yogurt, followed by another protein shake.

In the evening I had some almonds, a brazil nut, with red currants, rasberries, blackberries, blackcurrants (del monte frozen fruit). I had a cup of these. I then ate about 2 squares of lindt 70% dark chocolate with some mint and green tea.

Usually I have at minimum 200g of green leafy vegetables raw, and they haven't had my favourite Kale in the supermarket lately so just used spinach in my smoothies for just under a week. It does pack a fair bit of nutrition in there but probably not the kind of nutritional quality of kale, which has more easily absorbable calcium and is another leafy green that is very high in lutein (which is great for skin, see post below). I also had about 5 cups of green tea today in between meals.

Was short on Zinc (always have to supplement this to get good ratio of of zinc and copper). I was a bit short on calcium today because of no kale but still approached around 800mg without supp, also I have to supplement B12 which is in my Essential mix (i've been vegetarian since Oct 2007). Tiny bit short on Niacin but was covered on supplement. Have a couple hundred calories left but will leave that for today, time to sleep soon.