Shadows & Puddles.
13 Wed, 2011 § Leave a comment
Today,
take a walk,
…even if it’s in the rain.
Take a photo of something ordinary,
that you find extraordinary,
…even if it’s just a puddle.
~
The Great Fundraising Act
12 Tue, 2011 § Leave a comment
I don’t know Susan.
Honestly, I am only vaguely familiar with her story.
But have you ever been moved to act simply by the compassionate efforts of others?
Susan (of The Great Balancing Act) was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma. Despite this, she still carries on with a happy, smiling face & persevering strength while sharing her story.
Because Susan is stuck in the hospital, chemo is expensive & bloggers are powerful, Janetha has rallied the blogging community to come together & raise money for Susan’s medical bills. Over one hundred bloggers & dozens of companies are donating items to a live auction & bake sale on Monday, July 25th from 8:00 AM (EST) to 11:00 PM (EST).
Items will include delicious baked goods, a professional blog makeover, a lifetime recipe hosting service, autographed books & cookbooks from published bloggers, kitchen gadgets & dishes, clothing, accessories & much more.
I am donating my homemade deodorant,
made with tea tree & lavender oil, vitamin E & cacao butter.
All bids will start at $10. All proceeds from the auction will go directly to Susan.
You can show support by spreading the word & adding the Great Fundraising Act button to the sidebar of your blog. I have included the code below.
<a href=”http://mealsandmovesblog.com/the-great-fundraising-act/“><img src=”http://mealsandmovesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Susan-Button-160×237.jpg“></a>
You do not have to be a blogger to participate. Contact Janetha if you would like to take part. You can join in the auction or donate money directly.
For more information about the fundraiser, click on the image below.
Let’s come together & show there is love in the world!
Plum Vinaigrette over Wild Rice, Fresh Basil & Walnuts
11 Mon, 2011 § 2 Comments
I am craving cherries. Every week I go to farmers’ market, hoping someone has a cherry orchard. I have had no such luck, & it leaves me missing Utah a little. I can’t get this idea of a cherry vinaigrette out of my head. Oh well.
What farmers do have here, though, are plums — small, sweet & just the right amount of juicy. It reminds me of our own little blossoming tree from my childhood.
From these a simple & vibrant plum vinaigrette was born. Golden or white balsamic was the perfect match, & I would recommend opting for it over dark balsamic. It’s lighter & sweeter than its darker counterpart, with a fruity, zesty flavor & subtle color that won’t overwhelm food. Golden balsamic is one of my favorite vinegars & worth keeping on hand.
Plum Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup fresh plums, pitted & chopped
- 1/4 cup golden/white balsamic vinegar
- 2 T extra-virgin olive oil or flaxseed oil
- sea salt to taste
Combine plums & vinegar in a blender & blend smooth. I like to slowly whisk the olive oil in by hand, so I can easily taste & adjust the amount. Taste & whisk in sea salt to taste as well.
This can be used as a dressing over mixed greens, but I thought it paired especially well with wild rice or other dark grain salad. Just as cherries are perfect with wild rice, plums offer a similar sweet contrast. I cooked half wild rice & half brown rice together for Dave’s benefit, but I forgot he can’t eat wild rice at all. Next time I will do mostly — if not all — wild rice (& brown rice separately for him) or see if wild rice pairs well with red quinoa (cooked separately of course). I love wild rice, & it goes so well with plum & walnuts; but use whatever dark grain you like best.
I tossed the vinaigrette with 3 – 4 cups cooked rice, 2/3 cup toasted walnuts & 1 – 3 chopped plums (dried cherries would also work here), then gently stirred in a couple handfuls of thinly snipped fresh basil. I also added slices of ripe-yet-firm avocado on top of each serving right before eating. Do not add it before; it will brown & make the salad mushy. The avocado adds richness to the fruitiness & zest of the rest of the dish.
It might not be fresh cherries, but now I anxiously await next market for more plums…& keep my naive hope that cherries will somehow magically appear.
~
What vinegars do you like best for making dressings?
Running in the Rain
8 Fri, 2011 § 6 Comments
If you have never run in the rain, you must — as soon as possible.
I was skeptical of Dave’s claim that few things live up to the joy of running in the rain — or even the mud — but it’s true. I was wet; I didn’t care. Raindrops misted my face; I wasn’t annoyed. As my feet splashed the first shallow puddles, I was radiating. Grey clouds cast shadows on the asphalt & grit; I felt empowered & liberated, ready to push out 8 insane intervals (I love intervals; I think they are fun but insane/hard): 30-second full on sprint + 1-minute moderate jog = 1 interval. After my final interval, I was exhausted but not ready to leave the rain; so I sprinted one more minute, fighting to increase speed until the end.
Rain is Refreshing.
I felt empowered by the elements to make this run count, but you could always just go out, splash & have fun. I still think you should push yourself harder than you think you are capable. Consider it a dare.
~
July Showers
7 Thu, 2011 § 3 Comments
I felt really grown up & accountable today.
I carried my umbrella with me, even though it was sunny when I left the house.
Walking from the office to the bus stop this afternoon, it was pouring. I was quite pleased with myself.
Mid-shower, the clouds opened & just dumped over-sized raindrops from the sky.
I couldn’t stop smiling,
even though my feet were soaked.
~
“earned”
6 Wed, 2011 § 7 Comments
~
Sometimes, Dave & I like to give each other photo assignments. This morning, he left me with instructions: a triptych of today.
So here is today:
Earned.
By noon, I had conquered our failing/overheating vacuum, dusted, swept, wiped, scrubbed, organized, discarded, rearranged & even laundered. By noon, I had also enjoyed a cucumber cooler & bowl of white melon & blackberries poolside…before the lightning storm hit…because my sanity required it.
Now, Eisley & I are just hiding out, inside, listening to thunder & smelling the rain.
~
What would your *triptych of today include?
*Triptych: a (paneled) work of art divided into three sections.
Happy 4th of July!
4 Mon, 2011 § 2 Comments
~
We’ve spent the weekend wandering around with our cameras, antiquing, breaking in our mountain bikes & sweating in yoga. Hopefully, we’ll be climbing soon if we aren’t rained out.
I hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend as well!
~
June Musings
30 Thu, 2011 § 6 Comments
“Wisteria woke me this morning,
& there was all June in the garden…”~Ann McGough, Summons
I was almost tempted to accuse June of flitting by, but it didn’t actually sweep through barely noticed. Summer finally made herself known; in the June afternoons, we soaked her in. When I think about how I spent these days & what they were made of, I smile. I just love summer. I thought I would share some of my current favorite things.
~
~ Lately I have been loving red leaf butter lettuce. We wrap the flavorful leaves, filled with a salad of crushed chickpeas, dill relish & lemon or yellow split peas tossed with a pesto of kale, pepitas & cherry bomb peppers.
~ Speaking of kale, my newest fixation is roasting it shortly with coconut oil, just a tiny dash of toasted sesame oil & a generous sprinkle of flaked coconut. A perfect snack that travels well enough.
~ When I’m home for lunch (or in need of a quick dinner), a favorite fix is an unda-style quesadilla with a little tarragon in a yummy, flaky rice tortilla. I don’t miss the cheese & sometimes even throw a spoonful of toasted capers on top.
~ Summer reminds me I do enjoy oats in the morning if done right, which is simply & cold: Italian-style muesli (also known as overnight/soaked oats) softened in vanilla hemp milk. No frills: I like simple combinations. Currently my jar is filled with thick-rolled oats, roasted pistachios, golden raisins & maybe occasional flakes of coconut.
~ The glass carafe in the fridge is filled with thick slices of cucumbers floating in cool water. This is so refreshing & sweet.
~ When we want a little something more than water, we fill casual scotch glasses with Tinto de Verano. Half sparkling lemonade, half inexpensive, Spanish red wine. I like tempranillo or a tempranillo-merlot blend. Don’t forget a squeeze of fresh lemon — this makes it.
~ I am craving chocolate shakes & seeing too many interesting homemade ice cream pairings. I recently borrowed my SIL’s ice cream maker, & July might be all about homemade creameries.
~ Some might find it a shame to puree beautiful, fresh produce into chilled soups, but it’s heavenly.
~ We are usually climbing to some degree throughout the year, but I feel I am finally getting my training in focus & just enjoying it.
~ Though I still have some mixed feelings, I’m really enjoying a new venture: Bikram. I also started a glute challenge/experiment based on this simple routine.
~ I can’t stop watching this beautiful & inspiring video of Natasha Wang.
~ How did I just learn about this? The creative (yet-everything-in-its-place) girl is having a hay day.
~ I am soaking in summer with a lot of play. In my downtime, my head is usually in a book. I recently finished two great novels by Margaret Atwood & thoroughly enjoyed The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. Now I’m onto Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent. Also on my summer reading list: The Comedians, Graham Greene & Her Fearful Symmetry, Audrey Niffenegger.
~ I am feeling crafty. Again, how did I not know about Pinterest?
~ I am obsessed with the vintage fade of photos. Like this or Faith, here.
~ Also smitten with minibooks. We are doing one for our San Francisco trip. definitely.
~
Tell me about your current obsessions & favorites. Did June fly by or did you soak it in?
Chilled Lemon Cucumber & Fresh Pea Soup for summer
29 Wed, 2011 § 1 Comment
“Summer afternoon – summer afternoon…the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ~Henry James
The essence of summer reveals herself in many forms:
the intoxicating sweetness of small, deeply red strawberries…
pungent, smokey notes wafting from a grill…
giggles & splashing rise from the pool…
the tart-yet-sweet burst of cherry tomatoes popping in my mouth…
buttery, flaky fried zucchini melting over my tongue…
floating cucumbers freshen & sweeten a cool pitcher of water…
Summer afternoons are delicious. It is not just that I am a hot-weathered girl. The colors, the sounds — the full sensory experience of summer it bright & alive — bringing with it pieces of nostalgia & chance to create our own stories.
Often the intense afternoon heat diminishes my appetite; but rather than forgo eating, light & cooling soups have been on my mind & just the treat my body has craved. It is no secret I am a simple cook. When ingredients are fresh & at their peak, there is no need for frills. I prefer to let the food speak for itself.
I have always wanted to try a chilled cucumber soup & remembered seeing a recipe where Helene used lemon cucumbers. Perfect, because I just happened to have a couple lovely lemon cucumbers from farmer’s market waiting in the crisper & fresh peas to shuck.
Chilled Lemon Cucumber & Fresh Pea Soup with Pistachios
lightly adapted from Tartelette
In a large pot of boiling water, blanch 1 cup fresh peas until just tender, about 6 – 8 minutes. Drain & immediately immerse the peas in a bowl of cold water, preferably with ice, to cool & stop the cooking process. Drain completely once they are cold.
While the peas cook, peel & chop 2 – 4 lemon cucumbers. I did not seed mine but definitely would if I were using regular cucumbers.
Place the peas & cucumbers in a food processor & puree until smooth. After pureeing, you might need to add water, or “milk” like I did, depending on the amount of water in your cucumbers, to reach the consistency you desire. I added just a splash of (vanilla) hemp milk, which added a slight creaminess & sweetness to the soup. I was afraid water would water it down & make it bland. Add sea salt & fresh pepper to taste.
Refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish individual bowls with a couple crushed, toasted pistachios.
makes 3 – 4 appetizer servings or 1 – 2 full servings
~
What is your favorite chilled soup? What are your current summer cravings?
My New Homemade Deodorant with Lavender & Cocoa Butter
24 Fri, 2011 § 5 Comments
Have you made your own deodorant yet? I am still loving mine…except…occasionally, my under arms became mildly irritated & (unattractively) red, especially when heavy perspiration hits.
I researched & discovered baking soda is a common irritant for many people. Ashley said she initially experienced irritation, but eventually it went away. After a full batch, I still get it from time to time — strange it only happens sometimes. For my second batch, I could have reduced the amount of baking soda, but I decided to leave it out all together. I did not adjust any of the other ratios but simply left it out — no more rashes! I put it to the test in Bikram & climbing over the weekend & pushing high intensity intervals this week: no irritation at all, no odor. It might even smell better this time around…
I like the coconut scent & how the oil feels on my skin. When I’m cooking with it (plain coconut oil, not the deodorant), I don’t even bother rinsing or wiping it (completely) off if it gets on my hands; I just rub it in & let it soften my skin.
I added another skin-nourishing ingredient to this mix of deodorant: remember the cacao butter (also known as cocoa butter) I ordered for making raw chocolate? I added a little for its healing effects on the skin. It adds a nice cocoa scent & feels nourishing.
Also, filling an old deodorant crank container doesn’t work; I think the homemade deodorant is too soft with the coconut oil. If it worked for you, please share; but ours wouldn’t rise & lower after the first time. I filled an old body butter jar with the deodorant & apply it by hand. This works much better.
Milky with an espresso-like finish from the cacao, this looks & smells so good.
Coconut Oil Deodorant with Lavender & Cocoa Butter
perfectly fills a 6.7 oz container
- 3/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 4 vitamin E capsules
- ~20 drops lavender oil
- ~5 drops tea tree oil
- 1/2 cup arrowroot powder
- 1 oz cacao/cocoa butter, shaved & melted
Shave & melt cacao butter using a double broiler, or in the oven on a low setting, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, combine & stir coconut oil, vitamin E (squeezed from capsules) & essential oils together. Add arrowroot powder & stir until evenly combined & smooth. Add the melted cacao butter & stir again. Pour into a 6.7 oz jar or container with a wide mouth. Refrigerate to harden.
Due to the heat of summer, we keep ours in the fridge & remove it for a few minutes to soften before applying.
~
Have you made your own deodorant yet? How did it turn out?
ARoadMoreBalanced 
