Macoun Apples
We were in search of Macoun apples, one of my fall favorites, so once again we headed to one of our favorite local orchards. How lucky we are in so many ways.
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Blueberry Morning
We are lucky to live where we do. I honestly think about that everyday. The other morning the kids and I headed to Hicks our local orchard to pick fat blueberries.
Gai Tom Ka and my love of Thai food
It is no secret around here that I love Thai food. It comes through in a great deal of my cooking. However, living in central Vermont, there are not a lot of Thai food options OR ingredients. We make do with what we got. Period. So my apologies for the few ingredients that are less than authentic. This is one of my absolute favorites and I make it quite often for my weekly specials for my customers. It freezes like a dream as well. It is rare that I don’t have at least 1 quart held up in emergency back stock. We will try this is one in my series of “The No Recipe Recipes”. Don’t be scared.
Start with this in a big old pot: 
Sorry for the crappy picture. I’m working on it (all good things in time), but this includes: 1 thumb of ginger, 1 jalapeno, scallions, dried shiitake mushrooms, fresh shiitake mushroom stems, star anise, basil and lemongrass. Shrimp shells if you’ve got them! Add 4-5 cans of coconut milk and 1 quart of stock (vegetable,chicken, fish, shrimp, pork…whatever). Bring to a bubble and simmer for at least 20 minutes or so. Meanwhile, during the simmer, cut up these veg (or any variation you like) into easy-to-fit-in-your-mouth pieces and place them raw in another big pot:
Red and/or yellow peppers, cabbage (Chinese if available), Bok choy, slivered white onion, bambo shoots, spinach, fresh shiitake mushrooms, button mushrooms… Feel free to add cooked chicken, pork or shrimp here as well.
Strain the hot coconut broth right over these fresh raw veg.
Add chopped up scallion, cilantro and the zest + juice of a few limes. Season the soup to taste with soy sauce or tamari AND fish sauce. (Yes, it smells a bit much, but NOT to be skimped. Use a light hand and add a splash or two, there is nothing like it).
End up with this and many friends… 
Laundry Basket Dinner
The first warm night we headed into the woods for a picnic supper, only a laundry basket was more our style. Adam says that Vermonters are like turtles, they crawl out of hiding to sun themselves on a log the first warm day. That is …
This Moment (A Day Late)
{this moment} – A Friday “today” ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Idea borrowed from http://www.soulemama.com/
Quiet Dinner
Very rarely, do we get a chance to go out alone, kidless. As most early thirty-somethings working for ourselves with 2 kids age 5 and under, the funds often aren’t there for babysitter AND fancy dinner. When the stars do happen to line up we go for it. This time we headed toward Middlebury and after a long walk, ended up at the Storm Cafe. Here is a snip from our night…
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| Well, we never really are alone… |
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| Seared Diver Scallops with Local Spinach and Popcorn Puree. |
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| Shrimp Carbonara with Wild Mushrooms and Tomato. |
Easter Weekend
Just a few snaps from a beautiful weekend spent in the sunshine with family and friends. It really doesn’t get any better.
Fried Rice
This is one of the recipes in my “No Recipe Recipe” series. I just take some things and throw them together for an easy meal. You get the idea….
Start with this.
Scramble the eggs and set aside.
Saute the vegetables (or keep some raw) and add some cooked rice (or grain of your choice).
Put the scrambled eggs back in with everything and drizzle with the sauce. Use a sauce of equal parts soy sauce (or tamari) and brown sugar (or sweetener of your choice).
You get this…
Soon after you serve it comes this…
Enjoy.
This Moment
{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Idea borrowed from http://www.soulemama.com/