zucchini salsa!

fall is here.

we are harvesting last bit of the garden vegetables.

we also got LOADS of giant zucchinis from our housmates' friend who manages a community garden.

we made zucchini bread four times,

also made some zucchini patties a few times.

but we never seem to be able to consume enough of them...

we still have LOTS!

 I mean, LOTS!!

so, I decided to do something different with them.

looked up recipes for zucchini salsa.

found this one, which has great reviews.

so, gave it a shot.

I eliminated the sugar and cornstarch that the original recipe called for,

and cut back the vinegar by half and used apple cider vinegar.
oh, and you know my secret?
I used vita-mix to chop up all the vegetables!
it would have taken me hours to hand-chop them otherwise...

 indeed it was very tasty!

I canned most of the first batch,

and made the second batch and canned some more a few days after since we still had a lot of zucchinis.

we have a year or more supply of zucchini salsa :)!

meet my new mug

a couple days ago, I received a small parcel at my door.

yes, yes, this was what I had been waiting for for almost a month!

camera lens!

but it is not just an ordinary camera lens!!

it actually isn't a lens at all!

it is a coffee mug made to look like a lens!!

I found it on Photojojo, and instantly fell in love with it.

it arrived just on time for pumpkin spiced latte season.

I can't wait to take you everywhere I go!

happy Friday,

have a lovely weekend :)!

P.S.  pshyyyyyy!  if you also fell in love with it, you can get your own here :)

nothing says summer like...

strawberry shortcake!!

here is the recipe I tried a few days ago.

it was the first time for me to try out a gluten free recipe.

I made it gluten free because one of the housemates has a little trouble with wheat.

I looked up for wheat free strawberry short cake recipe and tried this one.

I will write my version down below.

[[WHEAT FREE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE]]

Sugar -2 TBS

Rice flour -generous 3/4 C

Millet flour -2/3 C

Bking powder -1 TBS

Salt -1/4 TSP

Butter -1/4 C

Water -3 TSP

Yogurt -5 TBS

3 large eggs

①mix all dry ingredients together, then cut butter in and mix until it becomes crumbly

②mix the wet ingredients together in a cepalate bowl, then mix in with the dry ingredients

③preheat the oven 400F, bake it for about 20 min or until it's browned

④serve with strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

Von ape tit :)

I didn't use margarine(it's BAD for you!) or any other dairy/gluten-free products as the original recipe called for.

nor did I use rosewater because I couldn't find it in a store.. :(

it sounds good with rosewater though!

and actually didn't use sugar either(well, just forgot!)

it wasn't that dry and crumbly as most of gluten free bakings tend to be.

I'd love to try it with rosewater next time, for sure :)

so, we went to a u-pick organic farm on Sauvie Island last weekend.

with six of us, picked 46pounds of strawberries in a couple hours!!

(this is what she did most of the time while the others were busy picking!)

we finally finished processing(washing, drying, bagging, freezing, and making jam!) two nights ago.

we'll have plenty of strawberry supply for the year :) :) :)

my kind of drink

since we got in Portland, my husband and I've been drinking this tea called "kombucha".

we had been a regular drinker of it until we moved back to Canada two years ago,

but the price in Canada was so much higher and there was only one kind sold at the organic grocery store we used to go to...

now, we're back in the States and definitely enjoying the variety and the cost that they offer here!

yesterday, I discovered another favorite one!

SYNERGY Guava Goddess

sorry it is an empty bottle :P

sometimes you can't taste the 'flavors' because Kombucha is so strong,

which kind of tastes like carbonated apple cider vinegar.

but this one was really fruity and very yummy :)

just in case you've never heard of kombucha...

KOMBUCHA (kom-BOO-cha)

is a handmade Chinese tea that is delicately cultured for 30 days. During this time, essential nutrients from like: Active Enzymes, Viable Probiotics, Amino Acids, Antioxidants, and Polyphenols. All of these combine to create an elixir that immediately works with the body to restore balance and vitality.

KOMBUCHA SUPPORTS:

digestion, metabolism, immune system, appetite control, weight control,

liver function, body alkalinity, anti-aging, cell integrity, healthy skin & hair.

(description/info from the SYNERGY bottle,

and here is their website.)

okay, there has been a little question on my mind...

I am a little confused and wondering why it is Chinese tea, but the name is Japanese?

is this one of those thing that got all mixed up and thrown together just because it is close enough in region,

or is the name really chinese??

does anyone know????

it seems like there are a quite few Portlanders who brew their own Kombucha!

I'd love to try brewing my own, too, once we settle in!!

this is it!

okay, I've decided

this is the last package of coffee!

I am going to switch to MATE after finishing it.

I had never been a big coffee drinker until I went to a collage.

I had one cup of coffee every morning, then maybe one or two more in the afternoon.

ever since then, I had a cup here and there, and I went cold turkey when I got pregnant.

about six months ago, got back to the habit of having a cup of coffee in the morning.

well, decaf coffee.

I don't really know why.
obviously I don't need it.

so, last night I told my hubby, who doesn't drink coffee at all, that

I was going to quit having coffee at home!

matte is so much better for you anyway.

here are some facts about matte:

it is high in amino acids and vitamins, also in antioxidants.

it has much less caffeine(about 1/3 of coffee).

and less acidic than coffee.

(want to read more? Yerba Mate vs Coffee: which is healthier?)

I am saying goodbye to coffee breath, headaches and upset stomach!

cupecake sweetness!

we all probably had enough(well,,, more than enough) sweets over the holidays.

but I couldn't resist making a post on these cupcakes!

I can't remember how I stumble across this cupcake blog,

but it is full of cute, delicious cupcakes(and their recipes!! yipeee!!) :)





I mean,,, how could you say no to them?



I might have to pick and try a recipe once my tummy is fully recovered from the holiday overindulgence.

1, 2, 3,,,, butter tarts!

sniff sniff

hmmmmmmmmm

I can smell the yummy butter tarts in the oven!

I made the pie dough last night after little L went to sleep.

and this afternoon, made the filling.

this recipe, which my mother in-law taught me, for filling is so easy to remember.

it goes like this - 1, 2, 3!

1 cup butter

2cups brown sugar

3 eggs

often it makes me confused which number for which ingredients,

but when you think about it, it makes a total sense!

butter is pretty expensive, so it is used only 1 cup.

eggs are what is making the filling thick and biding it together, so they have to be 3.

and what's left is brown sugar, 2!

just melt the butter and sugar in a pot at low heat, and add the eggs beaten.

stir until it is well mixed, and remove from heat.

if you like, add some raisins and pecans after you pore it into the shells.

they are the perfect holiday baking!

Christmas = Butter Tarts

:)

foam magic

have you ever wished to enjoy a nice cup of chai with a nice thick foam, just like a cafe made one?

my friend, Amanda, told me a secret on how to make a nice thick foam at home

without an espresso machine or anything special.

and I will share that secret with you today :)

all you need is a french press coffee maker.
warm up some milk, and pore that into the press.

*do not put too muchmilk here

press it up and down vigorously for like 30 times.

and here it is!!

the nice thick foam for your coffee, tea, steamers!

I made myself a cup of matcha latte.

(matcha powder, milk, and honey and vanilla to taste)

now you can enjoy home cafe :)

OD'ed on

CHOCOLATE

I love Green & Black Chocolate

especially CARAMEL♥

the BEST organic caramel chocolate ever :)

cookies!

my husband has been working away from home for over three months now.

he still comes back on the weekends, but it is still hard to maintain our lives like this...

it seems like this will continue to be like this till the mid February or March...

{{sigh}}

I can't believe for some families it is 'normal' that fathers working away, and they only get see him every few months or so...
Hope this is not going to become our 'normal'.

anyhow,

Sundays are really busy for me.

I cook a few things for my husband to take for his lunches for the week,

which takes me a whole afternoon.

this week I made winter roasted beef, squash soup, potato salad, and baked some cookies.

these cookies are one of my favourites to bake.

they are so easy and quick!

simple ingredients and taste soooooo goooooooooooooooooooooooddddddddd :)

the recipe is originally from Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon,

(we highly recommend this nutrition/cook book!)

and I arrange it a little bit.

here is my version of her cashew orange cookies

[ORANGE ALMOND COOKIE]

1 1/2c almond flour/meal

1/2c spelt or kamut flour

1/2c arrowroot starch flour

1/2c rapadura sugar

1/2c butter(room temp)

1 tsp vanilla

a pinch of salt

grated rind of 1 orange

just put all the ingredients above in a bowl, and mix with hand until it holds together.

roll the dough into a golfball-sized balls, and flatten them by hand.

bake at 300 degrees for 15 - 20 min until it browns the bottoms and edges.

*you can change the ratio of spelt/kamut flour and arrowroot starch. it just needs to be a total of 1c.

put more of spelt/kamut flour in, if you like it heavy

or, put more of arrowroot starch in, if you like them to be light and crispy

Bon appetit :)

they are so perfect for the holiday season, too!

the best thing in the winter

hotchocolate

+

marshmallow

= winter happiness

one of the cafes I used to go to when I lived in Ashland,

they had a choice of whipped cream or their housemade marshmallow with your hotchocolate.

I always went with the marshmallow, of course!!

I wish there was always a option of marshmallow topping at any cafes...

my husband thinks marshmallows are disgusting!

but, I think it is THE BEST thing in the hotchocolate in the cold winter days :)

what would you say?

rescue me

I love Bach RESCUE REMEDY series.

especially the pastilles are my favourite!

they taste very yummy flowery citrus.

it makes you calm and relieves you from stress!

you can take it when you are pregnant and breastfeeding!

it even helps with a teething baby :)

you can also use it for your pets.

a must have at your home and in your bag :)

feeling healthy

because my husband B is away for a week, doing an install in Alberta,

I had a list of things I wanted to do while he is gone.

I don't know why, but I get strong motivation to do things while he's not around.

he is not lazy or anything,

but I think it is sometimes easier to get stuff done while you are alone.

one of the things on my list was to get back in a habit of doing Yoga everyday.

it's been months since the last time I stretched.

I pulled out a yoga mat from closet,

and did some yoga for not even a half an hour.

that was all little L can handle playing all by herself.

although it was short, I felt really good :)

when I feel good and healthy,

I also crave for healthy stuff.

- green smoothie -

when we read this book, called Green for Life, a few years ago,

we got way into having green smoothie everyday.

the book was written by a raw foodist, Victoria Boutenko,

(well, the whole family is raw foodists.

and we called them the raw family when we lived in Ashland.)

B is a health freak, so he is still on it almost everyday,

but after a while, my interest faded away...

the truth is, I LOVE cooked food.

just like yoga, I had been out of it for a long time.

but today, after doing yoga,

I was actually craving for it.

so, I made some.

- banana, blueberries, orange, chard, lettuce, celery and yogurt-

sometimes we put nuts and seeds, and cod liver oil.

ahhhh

I feel super healthy today :)

cold yumminess

it's hot out...

and I had to do it :)

+

=

my weekend

my weekend flew by really quickly...

B, my husband, gets three day weekend, Fri, Sat & Sunday, because he works longer hours each day.

it is really nice having three day weekend.

Friday is usually our running errands day - grocery shopping for the week.

then Saturday and Sunday is chill out and play day.

I bought these vintage lace from a local vintage/antique store on Friday.

they were $1 each - score :)

Saturday, I made little L a strawberry custard tart from scratch for her half birthday.

of course, little L didn't get to eat it.

it is too early for her.

she has just started eating a little bit of solid food a few weeks a go.

instead I and B enjoyed it :)

B forgot to take the crust out of the oven while I and little L were having a bath,

so it was a bit over baked...

but it was still quite tasty!

Yesterday, we went to help our friends move.

I carried little L in Ergo Baby on my back, and moved boxes to a truck.

they had a lot of stuff!

*****************************************************************************************************************

I decided to extend the giveaway until Friday the 3rd(till the midnight Pacific time) !

and if you like it in a different size, please mention it too :)

*****************************************************************************************************************

brown rice pudding

we got 2 litters of organic milk from our landlord.

they said they got too much milk and they are expiring very soon.

we were not sure what to do with it.

we generally don't drink much milk at home.

I was thinking of making custard pudding,

but we didn't have many eggs left to use up the milk.

so, my husband B came up with an idea of making rice pudding.

well, we didn't have much white rice left,

so we used brown rice!

we checked a few recipes online,

but didn't really follow any of it.

B made it up as he was making,

and it turned out really good :)

it just had to be cooked longer

- for a few hours -

so that the rice is soft and gooey.

now we ended up with a big pot-full of brown rice pudding...

we'll be eating it for the next few days for breakfast and afternoon snack :P

chocolate love. gelato love.

I have been craving for chocolate since yesterday...

also something cold sounds great in this hot weather.

hmmmmmmmmmm

gelato!

I love ice cream, but love gelato even more!!

Big thanks to the Italians who brought such a sophisticated wonderful yumminess to this world!!

chocolate + gelato

together, it is heavenly.

Salt Spring Gelato makes the best chocolate gelato.

It is the best I have ever had in my entire life!

It gives you a little buzz after you eat, and makes you totally high!

{{{CHOCOLATE HIGH}}}

that means it is good chocolate!

ahhhhhhh

my mouth is watering....

image from: arianek

yum yum

Well, I am impressed with myself!

I am doing pretty well with keeping my blog going...

Not only keeping up with it, but also I have been able to have some time and energy to sew and do other things!

good job, me :)

Last weekend, I got a request form my husband, let's call him B, for butter tarts.

and, here they were!

I ended up making 27 of them.

We took some to our friends, but we ate the rest within a couple of days...!

Anything sweet doesn't last more than a few days around here. hehehe

I always use a recipe from his family for butter tarts.

Simple ingredients, and they taste fantastic!

It was probably not a very good idea for the breast milk,

but oh well, mommy needs a little treat once in a while :P

And last night, I made Kamut Berry Salad.

This salad is one of our favourite salads.

We used to buy it at Ashland Food Co-Op all the time when we lived down in Oregon.

It is super yummy and good for you.

We loved and missed it so much that I started making my own Kamut Salad.

I think it is very close to the original and tastes fab!

hmmmmmmm...

just talking about food makes me hungry!