I love local, seasonal, and wholesome food. I also love to share my cooking experiences with people.
So stop by, relax, and take a moment to smell the baking bread.



April 21, 2011

Digestive Tea

If you have your own slew of digestive issues, you're probably always looking for natural digestive aids. Or you could just want something after a heavy meal. Either way, herbal teas can really help. This one is an easy blend of herbs and spices that you could probably find in your spice drawer.

Digestive Tea

1/2 inch piece of ginger root
1/2 tsp coriander seeds
1 cardamom pod (or about 1/2 tsp cardamom seeds)
1 tsp fennel seeds
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 dash of tumeric

1.) Peel the ginger root and slice it very thinly.
2.) Take a wide blade and smack the pieces of ginger on a cutting board, as if you're trying to flatten them. Do this until they break or squish a little bit.
3.) Break open the cardamom pod and get the seeds out, then "squish" the seeds with the flat edge of your knife. Do this again with the fennel and coriander. If you have a mortar and pestel, you could probably use that.
4.) Boil water. Put all of the ingredients in a loose tea bag, or in a tea strainer.
5.) Seep the blend in a mug full of boiling water, and let it seep for at least 5-10 minutes.
6.) If you prefer sweet tea, feel free to add a sweetener.
7.) Sip and heal.

April 19, 2011

Odds and Ends

I haven't posted in forever! Mainly because I've been swamped in school work. On the upside, this week is spring break, which means I have a whole week to cook whatever I want! When I'm not working or studying for AP tests, that is. Also, I've completed a ten piece art portfolio for one of my classes, focused around the theme of the balance and harmony of veganism.

I haven't been doing a lot of cooking, because my schedule hasn't allowed it, there are a few things I've made here and there.

One thing I've been craving a LOT of lately is seaweed. I don't know if my body is in need of some minerals, but I'm wanting it all the time. I've had seaweed salad at restaurants a couple times, and I'm assuming they use kelp noodles. Since I don't feel like ordering kelp noodles off of the internet, I just used arame.

Seaweed Salad
makes one serving

1/3 cup dry arame, soaked for at least ten mintues or until it's tender
1 tbls toasted sesame oil
1/2-1 tsp nama shoyu, or soy sauce
1/2 tsp rice vinegar
sesame seeds
avocado

While the arame is soaking, mix the sesame oil, shoyu, and rice vinegar.
Toss the arame with the dressing.
Top with sesame seeds and a quarter of an avocado.
Enjoy! It's very easy and very yummy.

Dandy-Blend Drink

If you haven't heard of Dandy-Blend, it's a nice caffiene-free alternative to coffee. It doesn't taste exactly like coffee, but the roasted roots they use gives it a similar feel. I need to jazz it up a bit if I'm making it to replace my usual coffee buzz, but it's good stuff. And dandelion is great for you!

For a mug full:

1 slightly heaping tbls of Dandy-Blend
1/4 tsp cinnamon
hot water
chocolate hemp milk
plain rice milk

Pour as much hot water as you normally would for a mug of coffee into the mug.
Put in the Dandy-Blend and the cinnamon and mix.
Fill the mug about 1/4 inch higher with chocolate hemp milk, then fill the rest of the mug up with rice milk as you normally would.

What you get is a slightly chocolately, spiced herbal drink that's pretty tasty.