Happy Independence Day everybody! What's beginning as a cooler New York morning is sure to eventually turn into a beautiful sunny day. Despite the few storms we have seen lately, the warmth is here to stay and were hoping a little less humidity ahead. We have been missing our little lady of the house due to her first week long summer camp excursion! From the pictures posted by camp counselors it looks to us like there is nothing but smiles and good times. We certainly can't wait to see her yet even more so, are anticipating the wonderful stories she has to share.
As some of you may already know, Ive taken a bit of a hiatus on the employment scene. Although this is temporary (and quite honestly, just a fortunate opportunity to develop and try to get a new baby business off the ground), it has been well received at home. More time to spend on home and taking caring of myself...a much needed job right now. Over dinner one night this week, the W2B commented (half joking, half not so much) "I'm sort of liking this working part time thing for you...maybe we should consider this for a while". Darling, isn't she?:) The thing is, me not working is translating into home duties being done, weekly shopping kept up, gorgeous healthy meals prepared and every evening left open to family time and plenty of daylight left for skateboarding! But lets backtrack a minute, shall we? Meals. Now, some of you may be thinking, big whoop! So she is staying home playing all domesticated lady like, taking care of her family like the rest of us do too. YOU'RE RIGHT! The truth is, I know what its like to work full time, raise a child, keep a home clean and fed and running smoothly. Doctor appointments at 7am, late for work and errands squeezed in between after school activities and a respectable bedtime. And that's without family dinnertime in the equation. Here's MY truth. At this particular moment in my life...in my family's life...we are blessed to all take a deep breath, pursue a few dreams and live a little lighter for a bit. "Sometimes you just can't put a price on these things", someone recently said to me. This is so very true. We are living our life for today. This very moment looks and feels as it does because we choose to honor it for exactly how it appears. We try to live simply. Not a lot of excess. Sometimes i feel I'm being trite saying that, when I look around my home and my life and see so much more than what some have. I am not really a materialistic gal. I could live without "stuff" tomorrow if need be. I am teaching my daughter that although we do have things others may not, we should never take it for granted. Change is constant. Last year I was sleeping in a double bed with my "all legs and arms" child, sharing one room in my mothers 2 bedroom trailer. Everything we owned (which was purged considerably) was in a 10x10 box 5 miles away. Locked up for a year collecting cobwebs. I woke up everyday trying to remind myself how blessed we were to have dear loving family to take us in and freely give not only physical space but, mental and emotional space as well.
Ive gone off rambling now...(big surprise). Refocusing...
Ah yes. The best part lately for us, the meals!!! We love to eat! I mean, shamelessly love food! My family will make a list and plan a "menu" for a weekly dinner. Now that half the family is a little further away, the big shindigs don't happen as often but, the love of creating something aesthetically beautiful on a plate meant for nourishing our bodies gives me such joy! Of course I want it to taste great too. With our recent membership in a local CSA, we have truly begun to have a blast when it comes to planning our meals. Yes, having more time gives me such freedoms. I am thoroughly enjoying and not taking for granted my current fortuitous circumstances.
So now, LETS EAT!
My sister said to me this week, after receiving a picture of a dinner I made, "You should add your food to your blog...its so beautiful sissy". Followed by a bold, "SERIOUSLY". :) Well, I took her SERIOUSLY and figured, why the heck not?! I love to write. I love to cook. I love to take pictures. Seemed like a no brainier. Ive decided to try out a version of an idea I see from time to time around some of my favorite blogs, using the "a week of" blog tradition for my meal sharing.
So, ladies and gents, here is my first attempt at the novel idea.
MY WEEK OF MEALS (or REAL FOOD, ITS WHAT I EAT)
Last weekend we spent another (of many and not the last) beautiful couple days in Saratoga. We can not say enough about our love of this town. The like-minded, the friendly, the charismatic, the energy level. Its like a town size adaptagen. Whatever you need for the day...whatever your spirit is craving, Saratoga delivers it to you wrapped in a pretty bow. Somehow it is city and nature feel rolled into one. Every corner has its own energy. Within four blocks we passed a grassroots style band and washboard quintet, complete with two lazy dogs sleeping peacefully on the busy sidewalk. We walked further to hear a young man in his teens playing a guitar for dollar bills, while just ahead at the next street was a beautiful violinist serving a daily dose of sidewalk classical scores. All this and the largest crowds gathered for the day were for a young magician grabbing and keeping passersby attention with his humble yet effectively mesmerizing act. Did I mention how much we LOVE Saratoga? In between our walks down Broadway, our breaks on the blanket in Congress Park and our 2 visits to Northshire Bookstore (both of which we sat for an hour and accumulated a bag full of new books), we ate our way through the towns delicious healthy offerings.
Saturday morning farmers market in town. Sunday Spa outdoor market at the Lincoln Baths. Four Seasons health food store and cafe and that's not including the endless choices of restaurants teeming with choices, even for us health conscious, gluten free, no meat eaters. We also prefer local fare and there is no shortage of that here!
With no further ado, here is our weekend in food. What Ive chosen to share is (left top and clockwise)
A Saratoga Springs farmers market breakfast of spinach and veggie scrambled eggs along side (our juice savior while away from our baby Breville) a Clarity Juice. *Ive taken the time to attach a link here because we absolutely love this gal and her cause. Look her up and please stop to visit her at the markets! I even posted below a snapshot of her recent bit of local fame:)
A beautiful (and one of my favorites of the weekend) outdoor vegan buffet lunch by 4 Seasons like none other can do. My plate included cold marinated rice noodles, tomato topped polenta wedges, hijiki salad, kale and pineapple rice with a side cup of gazpacho. Holy goodness! Then came our nice mini fiesta served up by locals at Cantina, where we dined on a tuna tar tare over yucca chips (not pictured), corn breaded avocado tacos and the spicy shrimp burrito bowl. Ole!
Then we returned home! I absolutely love cooking and preparing meals. Here is some of the proof.
Homemade sushi rolls-sweet potato maki & smoked salmon with avocado by moi. The seaweed salad and kani salad were takeout however, i hope to be trying them myself soon too.
Just a lite afternoon tapas inspired plate i thought looked purty. Brie and Fontina cheeses with an olive medley and roasted seaweed strips. Also, I can't forget the Moroccan Mint Green Tea by HonestTea, one of my favorites in summer.
Max said "oooo fancy shmancy" to this dinner yet, it was the furthest from! My first gazpacho-a watermelon jalapeno soup-with pumpkin seed rice, lemon tilapia and steamed broccoli. (there happens to be a story behind the soup though, I like to call the "jicama hiccup". Feel free to track me down and ask. HINT horseradish root is not a thing like jicama)
A good ole last minute throw together gone delicious! Spinach, basil and cheese quesadillas topped with black beans, tomatoes, greek yogurt, shredded napa cabbage and a salsa verde.
These were a weeknight dessert surprise for my lady. They were just titled "raw balls" but I feel they are deserving of a much grander name. With walnuts, dates, almond chucks, nut butter, cacao, maple syrup and coconut...I may just start calling them Nirvana! :)
Here's wishing you all a fantastic fireworks show and fabulous weekend! If you're in Saratoga, stop by one of the farmers markets or walk down Broadway into Congress Park. I'm sure you'll see us there! Later happy folks!
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