I was awakened in the middle of the night by my sense of smell. I don't think this has ever happened in the wee hours, though I recall plenty of pleasant-scented awakenings at my Gramma's house as she'd cook breakfast (with wafts of frying bacon) early on a Sunday morning. Last night it was mustelid. We've known there's a skunk, or perhaps many, creeping around our block since we smelled the awful scent a couple of months ago behind our garage. When I was rudely rustled from my slumber last night I peeked out the window to see if I could catch a glimpse of an angry skunk skittering across the street. No such luck (or maybe it was luck that I didn't.) So, we add skunk to the amazing list of fauna inhabiting our neck of the city. Despite the odors, I'm okay with these critters--foxes, raccoons, and skunks--creeping around because the rabbit population has seriously declined since I've noticed the larger predators. My garden is happier as a result.
Photo courtesy of craftlog.org |
Apples |
Strawberries |
Sweet Cherries |
Wild Grapes |
Not only am I enjoying spring through my nose (ah, the lilies-of-the-valley are smelling so sweet right now!), my eyes and hands (I love my morning garden walk to see what's changed and grown overnight), my ears (was hanging laundry this morning and heard a cardinal singing on an overhead wire), but also, as usual, with my taste buds. We attended a family picnic yesterday afternoon via the Holistic Moms Network so I had a chance to whip up some new dishes. I'm getting to the point with my pantry where I need to use last season's batches before I make new. I brought the requisite jar of dilly beans to the picnic, but also incorporated some of my homemade apple butter into some baked goods.
Almond Jam Thumbprint Cookies (Gluten-Free, Dairy/Egg-Free)
Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies
Adapted from a recipe printed in the June/July 2011 issue of Readymade magazine. This was the first recipe I adapted from wheat-based to gluten-free and felt that the results were excellent.
2 1/2 c. almond flour
1 1/2 c. oat flour
1 c. sorghum flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. fine sea salt
1/2 c. pure maple syrup
1/2 c. honey
1/4 c. apple juice
1/4 c. grapeseed oil (or other neutral oil)
2 t. almond extract
3/4 c. apple butter (or preserves of your choice)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line two or three baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking mat. Stir dry ingredients in a large bowl to blend. In stand mixer, mix syrup, honey, juice, oil, and extract until combined. Gradually add dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Scoop onto baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Use end of a wooden spoon to make indentation about 1/2-inch in diameter that goes to bottom of cookie, but not through it. Pipe preserves (with pastry bag or small plastic bag with a corner cut off) into indentations, mounding just above top of cookie. The jam will melt down during baking. Bake cookies until they puff and turn golden brown, about 20-25 min. Transfer to cooling racks and let cool. Will keep for two days in airtight container at room temp.
I also used up the last of my jerusalem artichokes making a slaw for the picnic. My sister-in-law sent me this recipe that she'd clipped out of a magazine; she knew I was excited about sunchokes, how sweet! I've had this recipe tucked away in my "To Make Soon" folder and decided to finally adapt it to suit my diet.
Jerusalem Artichoke (Sunchoke) Slaw
Makes about 4 c.
The radish leaves, which I had on hand from thinning my radish rows recently, could be substituted with chopped flat-leaf parsley.
3 T. coconut milk
1 T. avocado mayo
1 T. tahini
1 t. Dijon mustard
1 t. nutritional yeast
1 t. capers or "Midwest Capers," chopped
2 t. white wine/sherry vinegar
3/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 lb. Jerusalem artichokes, thoroughly washed
2 large carrots, peeled
2 stalks celery, with leaves
1/2 c. radish leaves (optional), chopped very fine
1/4 c. fresh chives, snipped
Whisk together coconut milk, avocado mayo, tahini, Dijon, nutritional yeast, capers, vinegar, salt, and pepper. With shredder attachment of food processor or handheld grater, shred Jerusalem artichokes, carrots, and celery (or dice celery very fine). Add vegetables to "dressing" right away to prevent sunchokes from browning. Gently stir salad and add seasoning, to taste.
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