Saturday, March 28, 2009

Obama Post - Number 3

I think.  I could go back and check, but I like things that come in threes, so I think I'll stick with that.

Actually, I don't know if this post is about Obama or about Obama-inspired.  

This is something I've been meaning to post for awhile now...Zeke's Executive Order Blend.  Rachel gave me a pound back in January and I just sent a pound to my dad.  I wanted to send a pound to each of my family members, current and former coffee addicts alike. 




I think Zeke's wins the prize for best Obama-inspired product/item/etc., and there have been many.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

(Smaller) Signs of Spring - Day 3


Cherry blossom buds.


Teeny, tiny daffodils.  This picture doesn't show how small these really are.


Small clothes in bright colors.


Oh, and we found a little mouse in our house.  I am a little more thankful for Bollito and Cookie on that account.

 But, that doesn't warrant a picture.


Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Signs of Spring/Test Kitchen -- Day 2



you pick...

I think I like the idea of blogging in a series.  So here is my sign of spring for today... 

When you feel like eating salad.


I keep saying that I need to learn how to make more salads.  I'm not sure why, but they don't come naturally to me.  Every time I've eaten at the Whole Foods food bar I've looked for this salad, it has wheat berries and curry and some other things and I'm always happy when I find it! (It sounds like I eat there a lot, I don't).    Anyway, last time I went I decided to memorize the ingredients and try it at home.  Well, I'm not sure that it's exactly it, but this is what I came up with and I'm happy with the result.

So, for my second Test Kitchen post:  Curried Wheat Berry Salad

Ingredients:
1 c hard wheat berries
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 bunch spring onions, chopped
1 handful parsley, chopped
3/4 c sliced almonds
1 oz raisons

Dressing (to give credit where credit is due, this is adapted from Juan's dressing recipe, that I love):
3 T olive oil
1 T cider vinegar
1 T honey
2 t dijon mustard (I prefer Gulden's)
1 juicy lemon
1/4 t curry powder (heaping)
dash of cinnamon
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. boil the wheat as you would pasta.  When it is chewy, not mushy, drain it and let it cool in the fridge (or freezer if you're in a hurry).
2. Make your dressing.
3. Combine the rest of the ingredients with the wheat and dressing.
4. Serve.

I suspect that it may taste better the next day, I'll find out tomorrow.  

Make it and let me know what you think!  Any good variations? 


PS I know the ingredients are out of season, but I couldn't wait until summer to eat this.  

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Signs of Spring--Day 1


Lately I've noticed that I tend to walk really fast and not notice the world around me.  But on blogs all around people have been posting signs of spring and I decided that I needed to look around a little more and be intentional about noticing.  Maybe taking pictures would help...  Incidentally, the day I decided to do that we had the largest snow storm of the season.  Go figure.

Anyway, here's what's happening on our block.



Cherry trees turning red, you can only tell that there are buds if you look close or see a row of them all together.


A trench and a light scarf.

Leftovers from last season