Taking Time for Fun and Rest
Sep 18, 2008
I have a confession to make. I have “chronic list-making disease” (CLMD). I make lists for everything! Otherwise, I tend to forget a lot. I make to-do lists, shopping lists, idea lists, project lists and menus. All this list making helps me to be more productive but can also make it harder to relax. There is always something to be done!
Yesterday I realized it had been quite awhile since I did something NOT on one of my lists! I desperately needed to do something purely fun! Isn’t it easy to ignore the fun stuff, feeling like it’s not important? Personally, I relax by making things (jewelry being my favorite). Although, there are times when I need to just sit in quietness (while trying not to make yet ANOTHER list in my mind). There’s something refreshing about not always accomplishing or producing. Contrary to what our culture tells us, there is great value in taking the time to NOT do anything. I try to do this each week by observing a sabbath rest. I’m not legalistic about it but I really feel it’s necessary for my well-being and health.
Posted In: My Life • Comments (0)
Green Smoothies
Sep 18, 2008
Green smoothies are all the rage right now. I recently made my first one and was immediately hooked! The “green” part comes from anything green (like raw kale, spinach, parsley or other greens). Then you add an assortment of fruit and blend it all together in a blender. This is a great way to get the incredible benefits of raw greens in a tasty way. Now I have a use for all that kale we’ve been getting from the farm!
The beauty of green smoothies is that you can make them with just about anything! Experiment with different combinations of fruit/greens. Just to give you an example, here’s the recipe I’ve been using (this is just what I had on hand):
Raw, de-veined Kale
Pineapple juice
1 Peach
2 Bananas
1 c. blueberries (made the smoothie not quite as bright green but still tasty!)
Posted In: Nutrition/Health | In the Kitchen • Comments (1)
Dandelion Path Anniversary
Sep 12, 2008
I can hardly believe it! The Dandelion Path is celebrating it’s first year anniversary! Time sure has flown! I started this blog because I had so many things that I wanted to share about nutrition & health & life. I felt like I just couldn’t keep it to myself. Thank you to all who take the time to read the entries here. Thank you too for all of the encouraging words you’ve sent my way. I can’t tell you how much that means to me! My desire is that this blog will encourage you in your journeys to live healthily and well!
To celebrate, I made a yummy peach cobbler with some locally fresh peaches! It was fresh out of the oven though and the candle started to melt from the bottom!
Posted In: My Life • Comments (3)
The Omnivore’s Hundred: Dandelion Path Edition
Aug 30, 2008
While visiting one of my favorite blogs, ”Almost Fit” I found a fun little activity to participate in. It’s originally taken from the Very Good Taste blog. Here’s what VGT has to say about it:
“Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.”
Here’s what you do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.
The Dandelion Path Omnivore’s Hundred:
1. Venison - Not yet. I’ve had some in my freezer for a few months that I got from a friend. I just need to figure out how I want to cook it up!
2. Nettle tea (This is very nutritious by the way. I like to drink it with dandelion & mint)
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile Does alligator count? If so, I just had some in Florida this spring.
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart (I’m trying to avoid all hot dogs now because of the nitrites)
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns (I’ve had barbeque, YUM, but I don’t think I’ve had this)
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes (Just had some this week)
22. Fresh wild berries (blueberries we found while camping as a kid. They were SO good!)
23. Foie gras (I know liver is super good for you but I can’t stand the taste! I would be willing to at least TRY this however)
24. Rice and beans (Haitian rice & beans is our all-time favorite meal around here)
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche (Dear friends from the Dominican Republic used to make this for us and it is SO yummy!)
28. Oysters
29. Baklava (This was what was served the day of my home-birth as well as my first birthday! Homemade is the best!)
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl (Haven’t had this but it sounds delicious!)
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo (didn’t like it though)
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects (This is actually a nightmare of mine! I know some cultures eat them but I’m scared to death to try!)
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more (I’d taste it if someone else was paying for it ;)
46. Fugu (I’m too nervous they wouldn’t get the poison out!)
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut (Hey, when the sign says, “HOT & FRESH” who couldn’t resist one of these on occasion?)
50. Sea urchin (as long as it’s cooked)
51. Prickly pear (not sure if I’d try this one. Isn’t it spikey?)
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores (I actually prefer each item separately though)
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs (I couldn’t eat these after seeing that Muppet movie! You gotta love Kermit!)
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain (This goes very well with the rice & beans)
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict (I can’t believe I haven’t had this yet)
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers (some nice ones are violets, roses & nasturtiums)
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam (Unfortunately I think I HAVE had this!)
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox (Had the bagel but not the lox)
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta (I just made this for the first time a few weeks ago and hope to make it again!)
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake
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Eco-friendly Wallpaper Remover
Aug 30, 2008
Well, this weekend we are removing the very LAST of the wallpaper in our house in preparation for painting! I’m very excited about this as I’ve wanted to paint for awhile. I wanted to make sure we used something healthy and eco-friendly though for taking it down. What we did was peeled off the first layer and then sprayed what was left with a vinegar & water mix. After letting it soak for a few minutes we scraped it off with a car window ice-scraper made of plastic. It worked great! We had considered renting a steamer to remove it but this worked so well I’m glad we didn’t bother with that.
I can’t rave enough about vinegar! I use it for cleaning all the time too!
Posted In: Green Living • Comments (3)
