A little less wobbling please...

When walking, just walk. When sitting, just sit. But above all don’t wobble!  Lin Chi

How much do we wobble? 

 Instead of being present, how much of our lives is spent in wobbling mode... trying to do 2-3-4 things at once?  Have you been to a coffee shop lately?  How many of us are sitting with someone...but looking at our cell phones?  How long do we hold focus on a project before we are interrupted...the phone rings, a text or pop up appears, we get hungry?....
We loose our focus...we start wobbling.

If we want to un-stress our lives and be who we are capable of being … become present... an undistracted version of ourselves.  Imagine showing up everyday...fully us.  Not wobbling, but clear, present and engaged.  

listening, tasting, seeing, smelling, feeling... present...

Who could we all become and what are we cable of doing by just reducing distractions and limiting our wobbling?  

When we are going to write...we write

When we do the dishes... we do the dishes

When we watch tv...we watch tv

When we listen...we listen

When we walk... we walk

When we drive... we drive

What a novel idea right?  It is stupidly simple...and yet

Why are we a society of distracted souls?  

More importantly... how do we want to show up in this world?

The truth is, when we are fully ourselves, nourished, happy and healthy, we make the world a better place.  We show up. 

It's usually in the removal that we find true selves... not in the addition of.  Practicing the art of subtraction makes room for our lives to breath and then to flourish.  A life that flourishes has a way of spreading beyond ourselves.  Like the internet, we are a web of connections.  Imagine if all our connectors we clean, happy and healthy working together.  Presently

A morning thought

   from my desk 

       during my own quiet time

un-wobbled space

Denise Frakes...wobbler, runner, writer.....

       

What do you love?

Yesterday, my good friend Nancy L sent me the link to Plum Deluxe's tea and food blog.  Nancy is tea brilliant.

If you put a scone and a delightful cup of tea in front of me, I become surprisingly happy!  Friendships come with conversations over tea.

   

Happiness is really so simple.  A cup of tea, a scone, an afternoon to sit and visit.  Simple pleasures are not complicated, expensive or taxing.  When we simplify our lives ... magical moments appear.

 I challenge you to have a tea party this month.  Invite friends, neighbors or just you.  Bring your heart, taste buds and notepad.  If not a tea party, then pick something you would love to do.

June simple and rich:  Downsize your stuff, your to-do list, your schedule.  Add in play, adventures and rediscover what you love about June

Play!!  Celebrate Strawberries- go to a festival and each strawberry shortcake, watch clouds, celebrate the first day of summer, plant rosemary just to smell, do yoga outside. Walk at night, sleep with the windows wide open.  Enjoy early mornings and late nights.

   Happy travels,
           Denise
            Send me pics of your tea party!

Plum Deluxe Blog          British Strawberry Scones   

Thanksgiving day celebration for busy families

 Thanksgiving comes early at our house- we call it fake turkey day.  The second Saturday of November is our big day.  Three 8 foot folding tables and one ping pong table transform our living, kitchen into a giant eating space. Last Saturday, November 10th, we celebrated with 28 two legged family members and 2 four legged.

Since this holiday is still fresh in my thoughts, I thought I would reflect a bit and share those 20-20 hindsight tips to you

Reflecting on Thanksgiving a week later...

     Naps are beneficial no matter how old you are
     Go outside, walk or run around the neighborhood before company arrives
              Breathe! enjoy nature, look for beauty, get out of your own brain

     Welcoming your guest with warmth and happiness is better than a perfect house!
     Pre cooking the turkey and deboning it the day before turkey day is a huge de-stressor

             I would rather spend time chatting than messing with a turkey when I'm tired

     Having 28 people coming to your house is highly motivating to do extra cleaning and organizing

             ride this wave and get things done... hint: look at your home as if you are a guess

     Sharing the cooking around: Many hands make quick and easy work

     Eat dessert first, finish with tea and light foods

     Take a walk after dinner- it helps you unwind and improves your digestion

     

     A good nap, fresh air and light eating the next day is priceless!

And finally, consider scheduling your holidays on offbeat days.  More people can join you, there is less stress and more freedom in your celebrations.  We started this early tradition to help our family who was in retail. We continue it because it is brilliant!!!

From our home to yours- Happy Thanksgiving,

             Denise

            

3 tips to turn your daily chores into space to breathe

Cleaning, laundry, picking up, driving to work, mowing the lawn, grocery shopping .... the list goes on. What you consider a chore is highly unique to you but there area few "chores" that seem to rise to the top.  As a professional cleaner and educator on the happy healthy home.  Cleaning is the one I hear the most. Since we spend our lives doing chores, wouldn't it be wise of us to make friends... sooner than later

"All work is important.  All work is of value.  The Amish honor what we would call the process and the product.  Both.  For them it's all connected.  ..... There is no need to rush to get one thing over so you can get on to something more important.  .... The Amish approach everything they do with the same attitude.  They had shown me that any type of work could be meaningful.  It is the spirit in which you do it that makes the difference".
                    Notes from the book Plain and Simple by Sue Bender (click to order - great read!!)

 This book was recommended to me by Dana P.  Thank you Dana. In December of 2008 she and I had a great conversation about chores, joy and practicing.  This book and our conversation have stayed with me and inspired me for over 10 plus years.

So how do you turn your chores into rich space to live?  I have thought and played with this idea for years.  And to be honest, when I'm flowing in my life it is easy.  When I'm struggling in my life I lean on these chores to ground me and give me rhythm.  When I'm overbooked, rushing around and stressed I hope I remember to use my chores as space to breathe and relax. This is the practice- remembering and then doing.  As Sue says in her book... "it isn't what I'm doing but the spirit in which I do that makes all the difference."

This practice is personal.  What you consider a chore is highly personal to you.  The question to ask yourself is... what do you dread?  What do you find irritating, exhausting or boring? What is a waste of your time and energy?  Pick a chore.  Play with it and see if you can't improve your relationship.

Tips for making a chore a gift....

1.  Give it space.  What we don't value we don't give space in our lives.  This translates to rushing, sticking our chores in to small spaces, odd times and no energy.  If you need to clean or mow.  Then give it space to do so.  When you have space you will naturally relax.

2.  Un-Judge your tasks.  Everything you do is important.  Projects, making money and having fun may seem more important and they are important but consider chores as a balance.  Chores are grounding, rhythmic and nourishing activities that support you and relax your nervous system.

3.  Use this time and space to play, to create to practice.  We tend to always be busy.  Are you looking for time to meditate, to create, to exercise or just be?  Well consider using your daily and weekly chores as time to hold your posture, to breathe, to relax, to wonder and ponder.  The possibilities of what you can do with this time is infinite.

We all need time and space to breathe.

As always, I wish you inspired travels.
    Denise Frakes
Home and Personal Coach

The Power of Decluttering your Food Before the Holidays

Evolve your Holidays...with a little decluttering.  Our family celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Sat of November.  Since I have already run through turkey day, I thought I would share the epiphanies I received along the way.

 Declutter and clean out your food first

     Normally I plan on cleaning out my pantry in January.  Smart right?  Always nice to start the new year all clean and happy....hmmm.  In the real world, I'm not energized to clean out my pantry in Jan. But highly motivated before company arrives.   This year I did an early declutter and cleaning before turkey day and it felt amazing.  If I do say so myself, that was a brilliant move!  

    Go for the busy spaces - you know, the ones you are forever adding to and removing from, are hotspots for clutter, disorganization and the occasional dust bunny.  Hello pantry, freezer and refrigerator!!!

4 epiphanies of early food decluttering...

       1.  It doesn't really take as long as you think it's going to.  The time and energy spent thinking about the task is what wears you out.

      2.  Cleaning out your food brings insight- be honest.  Are you really going to make homemade turkey broth from the turkey carcass?    Or are you going to do what I did... end up composting a one-year old frost bit turkey carcass from last year's Thanksgiving?  Saturday, I gave away the carcass to someone who will use it.  This year I also gave myself permission to do one less thing.

     3.  The boost of energy you will gain from having these spaces refreshed and clean will more than offset the time and energy needed.  Walking into a clean pantry makes me surprisingly happy.  All my little teas and spices looking bright, orderly and happily waiting to be used.  Happy is the opposite of stressed!

    4.  I was highly motivated to clean out my pantry before 20 people arrived.  I use this energy to propel me forward!  Knowing company is coming equals pure gold when it comes to housework.  A wee bit of fear of embarrassment is a powerful energizer. Honestly, I doubt if anyone in my family really cares much about my pantry.  But I feel better.  I'm more relaxed, less stressed and there will be less waste. 

The holidays bring stress…. decluttering reduces stress… less stress... happier holidays and a clear vision.  You deserve this!!  Happy holiday clean out to everyone.

Bonus idea... Store your herbs in the window.  When you get your herbs home, cut off about 1 inch and stick in a little jar of fresh water.  Keep your water fresh and you will have fresh herbs for food and decoration!  This tip comes from Nancy L!!!  ;-)

Paleo Pancakes makes for a happy brain

A happy brain makes for a happy life...

One of my all time favorite meals is pancakes and fruit.  Over the years I started noticing an irritating cause and effect relationship between pancakes and my energy level.  Basically,  I would eat pancakes and in an hour I turned into a zombie.  I lost energy, my brain got all muddy and I was less than fun to be around. (was is the key word here)

I don't want to become a zombie but I still love pancakes.  A couple years ago, I found a recipe for what I call Paleo Pancakes.  It is mostly squash and eggs.  The best part is it tastes delish,  keeps my energy happy and gives me a nice little serving of veggies.

 I have made the below recipes a zillion different ways.  Recently I added beets, which turns the batter pin, a color my little 14 month old niece would love.   On a job, I will pack up a container of pancakes and eat them for snacks.  In the morning, when they are fresh off the grill I put top with a bit of coconut oil and fresh fruit.  These mock pancakes are easy, yummy and have great staying power!

 Hope you enjoy,
     Denise

Paleo or Gluten free Pancakes 

    1 1/2 cups cooked butternut squash
    1/2 roasted beet
    1/2 gluten free flour - Trader Joe's brand
          grain free substitute: coconut flour or almond flour
    1/4 cup coconut milk- water or any other milk will also work
    Lots of chopped up pecans
    1/2 tsp baking soda, the soda is optional but it does make your cakes a little fluffier-
               (who doesn't like fluffy pancakes)
    Spices:
          Cloves, cinnamon and ginger powder
     7 eggs
     Coconut oil for cooking and topping pancakes
    Fresh fruit- for topping

Directions:
   In a blender mix:  
       Squash, beets, eggs, flours, spices, milk, baking soda
  On a hot griddle pan- put a bit of coconut oil
       Pour on your pancake mix and add lots of pecans to the batter

  The other day I made a peanut butter sandwich from two pancakes- quite yummy

Pumpkin Pancakes
  Here is the original recipe:  
           from the Book Paleo Comfort Foods Pg 112

    4 large eggs
    4 large egg whites
    1 cup canned pumpkin
    1/2 cup almond flour
    1 tsp baking powder
    1/4 coconut milk
    1 tsp vanilla extract
    1/2 tsp nutmeg
    1 tsp cinnamon
    1/2 cup crushed pecans
      1-2 T butter or coconut oil

1.  Mix all ingredients in a large bowl except pecans.
2.  Heat a griddle or large skillet to medium heat and coat griddle/pan with butter or other fat source when hot
3.  From here, traditional pancake rules apply with a slight modification.  These will not bubbly like your traditional pancakes.  The batter is a bit thicker.  On medium heat the first side takes about 2-3 minutes to brown then another 1-3 minutes on the other sides.  

Variations-  They are fans of "adding a few chopped nuts on top of a freshly poured pancake.  You can also top a stack of these beauties with a few berries, or mix into the batter some finely chopped apples for a little sweetness.
                                                              Paleo Comfort Foods page 112

Holiday Chai Seed and Eggnog Pudding

Holiday Chai Seed and EggNog Pudding

I love holiday deserts but too much sugar and processed food makes me lethargic and kind of grumpy.  But having no treats during the holiday season is no fun, so I improvise and substitute.

Chia seed and Eggnog pudding is a yummy little desert that is gluten free, low in sugar, high in fiber and big on happy holiday taste.

Ingredients:

    2 cups Soy eggnog- feel free to substitute coconut, almond or hemp milks

    1/2 cup Chia Seeds

    1 Banana

    Fresh nutmeg

    1 glass quart canning jar with lid

Put chia seeds and egg nog into quart jar.  Cover and shake well.  For the next 15 minutes shake periodically to keep chia seeds suspended.  If you let sit, they will clump and no one likes clumpy chia seeds- right??

   Keep in refrigerator until you are ready to eat.  When ready for a treat, pour the chai seed mixture into a bowl, add fresh sliced banana and a sprinkle of fresh nut meg.  The sugar content will come from your banana and eggnog. 

Hints:  If you want a thicker chia seed pudding just add less liquid.  Also, if you want plumper seeds, soak your chia seeds overnight they will absorb more liquid.

     If you want a sweeter treat- use a sweeter eggnog, riper bananas or add a bit of sweetener.

My discovery of  chia seeds came from one of my all time favorite books called Born to Run by Christopher Mc Dougall.  This is a great book to read while eating chia seed pudding!

Hope you enjoy and happy holidays!!!

        Denise

Summer is demanding- feed it!

    Is it only me or do your taste buds change right along with the seasons?  About this same time every year,  I find myself blankly staring into our refrigerator.  I'm not the least bit interested in our "favorite go-to" meals.  I have no desire to cook our normal dinners: none-zero-null!

  

   Come autumn, I'm pretty sure I will once again have a burning desire for comfort foods, bright orange- squashes, sweet potatoes and pumpkins.  A rich, steamy bowl of soup will sound heavenly.  But in the heart of nature's abundance, my taste buds are loudly begging for vibrant, crunchy, juicy, light, cool and bright foods.  It is as if my natural instincts pitch a fit. 

   And so, if we are going to eat, I have to listen.  Seasonal food inspires me. It must, because when I create dishes in flow with the natural order of food, I am happy.  When I try to cook autumn foods or winter foods in the middle of July- bad things happen!

   Below is a recipe, we ate growing up. Before dinner we would head to the garden pick: baby tender white corn; juicy, beefy, rich tomatoes; dig up crunchy sweet onions.  Together this trio created a perfectly coherent symphony of summer!

   Wishing you inspired meals from the delights of summer!!

          Denise

Symphony of summer salad

Ingredients: 
Corn:  Pick freshly picked and baby- husk
    (I prefer white corn to yellow but both with work- tender is key)
Tomato:  Cut up a juicy, ripe and fragrant tomato
Onion:  Dice or small chop a fresh sweet onion 
     (You can also dice a green onion- either is amazing)
Butter
Salt and pepper

Directions:  
   Boil ears of corn water for about 5 minutes- keep your kernels crunchy!!
   Cut kernels off ear- put into bowl
   Add a dab of butter
   Add chopped tomatoes and onions
   Season with salt and pepper to taste
           I don't use pepper but that is just me

Enjoy!!!!!  So insanely simple - so delicious!!

Daily chores and the art a moving meditation

     Who has time to meditate and pause anymore?  Our days seems to be filled with millions of little events.  There are 86,400 seconds in a day.  How many of these 86,400 seconds are unaccounted for, open for free-time or just sitting around?  If you are like most people here in the US, I'm guessing very few.  So who has time to meditate or pause within this day of 86,400 seconds?  We all do!  Maybe not a formal meditation but we all have time for a moving meditation.

   Within each day, we all have repeating tasks, daily chores or consistent habits.  Brushing teeth, washing dishes, eating, driving to work, putting on makeup or feeding your dog.  Everyday we have a few minutes here and there that we don't need to focus on because we have done it a million times.

    Here is an idea to play with this new year:  The daily practice of pausing and being present.

  This practice is a moving meditation to be done in the course of your normal daily activities.  It isn't about adding on to your already full list but pausing withing those 86,400 daily seconds and giving yourself a good dose of TLC.

     What is in a pause?  A pause is an interruption of mind chattering, pressing, constant movement, brain disconnected and shallow breath that fills our days and seconds.

  Here is the challenge I give to you:
      Pick a task- any task will do.  Your task needs to be something you do daily for about 2-20 minutes.  It can be anything from cooking dinner, washing your face, night time dishes, taking your dog for a walk, or driving to work.  The most important part is picking one daily event to ground your practice in that event.  This event/task/chore keeps you from forgetting or getting off track.  When you prepare to brush your teeth- BING! This is your trigger- whatever task you pick- is your trigger to begin.

    And once you have picked your trigger- what next?
As you enter your task you take a deep breath, you stand or sit a little taller- extending your spine tall,   you breathe again and this time you relax your shoulders.  As you breathe in you breathe in deeply   holding this breath for a second or two.  When you release your breath your posture is tall but your shoulders let go and relax fully.  As you breathe again you smile- just a little smile like a little thank you kind of smile.  As you breathe out you let your smile relax with your shoulders.  As you continue to breathe, smile, and release, your whole focus comes to the present moment. Letting your senses strengthen this practice.  As you pause and breathe, you relax and smile.  As you pause and breathe you stand a little taller and now you feel your feet and notice you are grounded in the present moment.  As you breathe and smile and are grounded you listen a little clearer, you can look around and notice where you are, you take a second and feel your own energy,  If you are eating can taste deeper, savoring each bite, you can catch a whiff of the aromas around you.  You continue breathing, smiling and relaxing your shoulders.  Your posture is tall and your feet grounded.  Your breath continues to deepen, slow and expand into your back and abdomen.  Life gets a little easier and you will feel refreshed.

    This little practice, sandwiched within our busy day is incredibly rejuvenating.  Meditation doesn't have to be done at a yoga studio or in lotus position, it can be done while chopping carrots for dinner.  My grandmothers both had daily farms when they were my age.  Their days were busy and full of hard work.  Going off to meditate was not an option, they used their daily chores as their meditation.  We can do that to, maybe we don't milk cows but we do something everyday.  Pick a task and make it a mindfully quiet place to breathe and see what happens.

Wishing you all a happy new year and a lot of restorative pauses.
         Denise

 5 minutes has 300 seconds within.  300 seconds can change your life

 

Simplest "pumpkin" pie recipe ever



Baking squash



Delicata Squash

It is the season of squash!  Apparently, there is a squash season and it is now.  I love simple foods.  Slice - bake and enjoy!  That is cooking at it's best.  For the remainder of this year, I'm trying my hand at removing all added sugars and searching for the natural sweetness and flavor of whole foods. 



 This season, I was introduced to a new  squash, new to me anyway, Delicata! 

Pictured to the right and also pictured in the middle of the baking squash dish.

This is one of the only winter squashes I know of that you can eat the outer skin.

 A few weeks ago I baked one of these marvels.  It bakes up to a golden orange.  The flavor is great the first day, but don't eat too much.  Slice your squash into wedges and put squash in refrigerator.   Wait until the next day...and then eat it cold.

  It tastes like Pumpkin pie wedges!  But here is the kicker- no sugars, no spices, no dairy, grains, no anything but a splash of oil and Delicata - Simply Amazing. 

I do realize Cold Squash doesn't actually sound that great.  But you'll see, it is!  My grandpa Ella made all her "pumpkin" pies from squash.  She mainly used Hubbard squashes.  The natural sweetness and incredible flavors of these squashes minimizes the need to add anything!

Mock Pie Wedges
1 Delicata Squash ( more if you want)
       Wash skin, cut down the middle,  remove seeds
            remove ends
Bake flesh side up
Coat with a splash of olive oil or coconut oil- just to keep it from burning 
Bake on 400 degrees for about 45 minutes +or-  until it turns a deep golden brown
         You should be able to smell the aromas of this sweet squash
When cool, slice into wedges and refrigerate until next day
Next day: Eat wedges

Here's to the sweetness of squash season.  May simple pleasures be part of your day.
              Denise





Many hands make quick work

My grandma used to say "many hands make quick work".  Working with friends and family not only makes us more productive but turns a job into a social event.
This weekend, I volunteered with a friend to hand out recycle bags for an apartment complex that was starting recycling this Monday.  The plan was to deliver 170 bags, to 170 apartments, knocking on each door and introducing the new recycling.  With one person, Sunday afternoon in 80 degree weather, this would have been a chore.  But with 3 friends chatting and working together, the afternoon proved fun and it felt good to lend a hand.

  My grandparents had the attitude that many hands make quick work.  I remember my great grandma Biddle's joyful attitude as we would sit at the kitchen table shelling peas and visiting.  One year a fellow farmer/neighbor of my grandpa Alton's hurt his back. He couldn't harvest his farm.  My grandpa showed me a picture of all the neighborhood farmers and their tractors lined up ready to bring in the harvest for their injured friend.  I know my grandpa and his neighbors didn't have free time or extra money.  But what they did possess were big hearts and a strong sense of  what is right.  When my grandpa showed me those pictures later in his life, he was so proud of that "work day".  Not only did their work save a neighbor and friend from loosing a whole years work but the volunteer farmers gained lifetime benefits from their generosity. 

   As our families get scattered around the country, those simple afternoons of shelling peas with family or helping neighbors may be getting fewer and farther between.  But they are just as essential in our lives as they ever were. Maybe if our families no longer live next door, then lets create families in our communities and with our friends.  Getting together not just for fun but to get our work done by making quick work with many hands while enjoying the whole process for years to come.
   Just a thought for Monday.

As always, wishing you and your family a happy and healthy home,
Denise Frakes
Healthy home specialist
Owner- Blue Sky Services

The grain of the month is Quinoa

Tonight somewhere after putting the groceries away and making dinner, I made a fabulous little discovery. There is a grain of the month calendar!!! I ask you, how incredibly cool is that?

The whole grains council has created a calendar celebrating one or two grains per month. From my blog title, you probably figured out Quinoa is March's grain of the month.

Here is a teaser about this super little pseudo grain:

"It's not surprising that quinoa supports good health, as it's one of the only plant foods that is a complete protein, offering all the essential amino acids in a healthy balance. Not only is the protein complete, but quinoa grains have an unusually high ratio of protein to carbohydrate, since the germ makes up about 60% of the grain. ( For comparison, wheat germ comprises less than 3% of a wheat kernel.) Quinoa is also highest of all the whole grains in potassium, which helps control blood pressure."

The site is a gold mine of grain info.
http://www.wholegrainscouncil.org/

Each month the council lists a new grain. Since we are already into March I will catch you up.
January is Oats
February is Barley
March is Quinoa

Tonight we had sprouted brown rice for dinner...apparently, I was out of season:)

As always, wishing you a healthy and happy home,
Denise Frakes

Cocunut Sugar - keeps the sugar blues away

Coconut Sugar, it looks like dull brown sugar sugar. I first heard about it last year at a sprouting class. Shortly after that my sister told me about coconut sugar. She had heard about it from one of her student's moms.

I tried it, my sister tried it. We liked it. This week I dug a bit deeper into this new ingredient. It turns out, coconut sugar has some powerful friends. Here is a video by Dr. Oz. He likes it. http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/coconut-palm-sugar-best-new-sugar-alternative

Specifically this is what I like about coconut sugar:
It is natural
It has a glycemic index of 35
It doesn't make my blood sugar jump and dive after eating
It tastes good
It can be substituted for regular sugar 1:1 ratio

Have I ever mentioned diabetes runs in my family? Did you know I have troubles with hypoglycemia ( low blood sugar)? And although this is rare.... sometimes I get blood sugar spikes and drops causing me to be less than charming.

To find an ingredient where I can enjoy foods that are not only yummy but safe is a good find.

Last night I made homemade whipped cream:
Whipping cream
Coconut sugar
Real Vanilla extract

This morning I mixed plain yogurt, frozen blueberries, a bit of coconut sugar and a splash of lemon extract for my breakfast- way good.

My sister and I have been playing around with coconut sugar for about 6 months. So far we give it a thumbs up. Anything that keeps me healthy and smiling is a good thing!

As always, wishing you a healthy and happy home,
Denise Frakes
Co-Owner of Blue Sky Services
Certified Healthy Home Specialist

Parsnip Cake with Goat Cheese Frosting

Why not parsnips? This little known vegetable has been around since time began... well, maybe not that long but it was one of the first cultivated veggies. There is nothing wrong with this new-old discovery so much as it has been sandwiched in the wrong category. I say it is not a savory veggie!! All the recipes I have found for parsnips are savory- that is so wrong!!

The other day, I was experimenting with this little wonder, roasting it along with carrots and broccoli. When I pulled my dish from the oven, all I smelled was a delicious sweet baked good. Where did that come from? The parsnip! The parsnip was created to be a desert!

I knew parsnip's glory was a parsnip cake. Last weekend I tried my theory. I tested it on friends... we had a get together and I made two cakes. Below are the recipe's used including the original from my sister in law- KIM's Jumping Bean Carrot Cake recipe.
(Thank you Kim! Kim! Kim!)

The original Carrot Cake Recipe: Kim's Jumping Bean Carrot Cake
2 eggs
3/4 cups oil
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 lb shredded carrots
Beat wet ingredients, slowly add dry
Fold in carrots and walnuts
bake 350- 1 hour ( this is a high altitude recipe)

The Parsnip Cake Experiments: ( add or substituted in the 2nd cake)
2 eggs
1/4 cup chia gel
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup turbinado sugar or (1 cup coconut sugar)
1 1/4 spelt flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts (plus 1/2 cup raisins)
1/2 lb shredded parsnips (about 2.5 cups) (shredded and then food processed for smaller size)
follow above cooking directions- At low altitude the cake was done way before 1 hour was up


Goat cheese frosting
5 oz soft goat cheese
3 oz whipped cream cheese
2 tbl soft butter
1 tsp vanilla
For sweetness you can either add 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 3 tbl honey
or for a naturally sweet frosting on my second cake. I added a combo of honey, maple syrup, and rice syrup.
Whip with a mixer until nice a fluffy!!
Top cake with frosting when cake is nice a cool.

Chia seed gel: in case you missed my earlier blog

Mix 6 tbl spoons chia seed with a quart of water. Make sure you shake and stir while it is setting up. After the mixture turns to a gel- about 30 minutes, you can use this chia seed get to substitute for 1/2 your oils in baking. In the parsnip cake experiments I only used 1/3 oil substitution but I think I could have easily used 1/2 substitution.

Hope you enjoy!!!! It was good desert for a party and we also enjoyed our cake for breakfast the next morning:) If you try it, let me know what you think... unless you didn't like it in which case try another veggie:)

As always, wishing you a healthy and happy home,
Denise

How do you define prosperity?

Can you feel more prosperous than a well stocked pantry? Perhaps, but tonight I went shopping and had this feeling of joyful contentment as I emptied out my grocery bags. How lucky are we to be able to fill up our pantry!

Doesn't it feel good to have all the necessities along with special treats at your disposal? Currently, our pantry is stocked with forbidden rice, coconut sugar, mung beans, green tea with toasted brown rice, raw cocoa powder, real vanilla, ground organic cinnamon, roasted laver with grape seed oil and oh so much more.

Of course, letting someone in on the contents of one's pantry is very personal. But I would not know about coconut sugar if my sister hadn't told me about it. I got a recipe for raw cocoa and avocado pudding at Marlene's market. The green tea with toasted brown rice is one of my personal favorites at a sushi restaurant we frequent and the forbidden rice I read about in a book. Sharing fun and creative finds is what friends are for. If you have any delicious discoveries in your pantry pass them along.

Prosperity can be measured by more than just money in the bank. It is a questions I'm asking myself today, how do I define prosperity? How do you define it?

As always, wishing you a healthy and happy home,
Denise Frakes
Co-Owner of Blue Sky Services
Certified healthy home specialist

Good intentions and a little bit of garlic

While contemplating my zillion miles of training for the 60 mile walk, I created a most yummy lunch. Here is my recipe.

7 second garlic and fresh kale

Kale

Edamame

Garlic

Walnuts

Raisins

Olive oil

salt

The ingredient amounts depend on how many are eating. I cooked enough for one, but should have made enough for 3.

Cut up some fresh, out of the garden, kale. Put it in a medium hot pan with a bit of water to steam. Add frozen or fresh edamame and a dash of salt, cook until tender.

While the kale and edamame are on one steaming, start another little pan and add a glop of olive oil. Put 2 cloves of garlic in the microwave for 7 seconds. Take out smash, peel and mince. (the 7 second cooking of garlic is a tip my mom gave me in AZ this summer. Takes the bite out of garlic- tip of the year) Toss in the pan with olive oil the: garlic, raisins and walnuts. Add a dash of salt. Saute until tender. Add the garlic, walnuts and raisins to the kale and edamame and serve.

A girl can not walk only on good intentions, sometimes you need good fuel and a little garlic.

Hope you enjoy.

Denise

Thanks for your support

Do not be afraid!

" You must bring freedom, relaxation, knowledge and imagination to the thing and above all, do not be afraid; a failure is no disgrace and may very often be more instructive than a success.... The sense of failure is, in any case, always sharper in the the mind of the practitioner than in those of the guests."

Richard Olney Simple French Food

The Mindful Cook pg 93

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This quote just leaped off the page as I read a bit and eat lunch; one of my new creations straight out of our garden. Don't you just love the thought of cooking with freedom to do as you feel, to be completely relaxed, a touch of knowledge is probably good and with full imagination all the while doing it fearlessly!!

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This past week, I got a chance to visit my mom and grandparents in AZ. While there my grandparents give my mom and I full freedom to explore and play in the kitchen. My grandparents are amazing and brave. As I write this, my grandma is having her 96th birthday today. My grandpa will turn 97 next month. How many people, no matter what there age, will give playful and creative cooks full freedom in their kitchen? The list is very short. Talk about fearless!

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One of our dinner creations had a main dish of brats and sauerkraut. I know this is not all that unique but just wait, it gets better. The only brats I've ever seen cooked was in beer first and then browned on a BBQ or skillet. This is where not being afraid of failure comes in... I bought a can in the beer section called Tilt. How was I suppose to know it is not beer? The label said contains malt, had 8% alcohol and it was right next to Coors-which I know is beer. I wanted to get a single can so 5 cans didn't just sit around until my next visit. Hense, I bought one can of Tilt.

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I opened the can, dinner was to be served in 35 minutes. The liquid that poured out was this fluorescent green, lime tasting stuff, obviously not beer. I tasted it - you kind of have to in this situation. First thing that happened was 10 minutes of hysterical laughter from me and my mom. I dropped the brats in the bright liquid and smiled, why not? From there it got messy, I proceeded to boil green tilt stuff all over my grandma's stove - repeatedly. I kept going until it was done, took it off, sliced it and browned it on the stove, added the sauerkraut to the pan and and exactly 6:00pm give or take a minute it was servied. And it was great/kind of green but great- who knew!!

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Proceed without fear but with imagination, freedom, knowledge and be relaxed while you go. You may make a mess, scare your family and cause a few eyebrows to rise but you will be free to live and your memories will be crystal clear- or in this case bright green.

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Wishing you fearless cooking,

Denise

Lettuce fresh out of my garden has more protein

Does my red leaf lettuce have more protein than store bought lettuce? There is a high probability that it does.

Yesterday, I cut fresh lettuce for our dinner. I've learned to put the lettuce in a bowl of water, let it sit, while the sand and soil sink to the bottom. You can imagine my surprise when I looked into the bowl to find two slugs climbing out. Kind of cute really, they were all stretched out with their little horns finding a way out of the water. I should have taken a picture. If I have lettuce again today I'll take one. No doubt the little devils will join me-again. (If this blog comes with a picture, you will know what happened.)

The sand had pretty much fallen to the bottom, but really do you think I could let sleeping dogs lie, drain and serve my fresh, organic, home grown lettuce? Yuck! I carefully inspected the whole bowl cleaning each leaf with extreme awareness. If I had not gone to such extremes we would have eaten two more slugs!!!

Have I or one of my family members ever eaten a slug? Probably. Hence, my lettuce has a higher protein content than most store bought lettuce. The books make organic gardening seem so romantic. In truth, gardening is not for the faint of heart. You must press on even in the presence of slimy, crawling and buzzing.

This year, I am growing broccoli for the first time since I was a kid. I have delayed in growing broccoli because I clearly remember finding and picking little green worms out of our home grown crop. Last year, my mom grew her broccoli next to cabbage and swears all the little green worms went to the cabbage. I'm growing both. This morning, I noticed I have a little head of broccoli. I will tread ever so carefully from here. I don't want too much protein with my veggies.

Wishing you health and not too much protein,
Denise

Raw Chocolate Mousse

I don't think I have ever met a girl who didn't like chocolate. I know of a couple guys but no girls. Before doing my talk at Marlene's Market a couple of weeks ago, one of the employees gave me a recipe for a raw chocolate mousse. It is made with avacados- of all things.

Yesterday, I was visiting with one of our customers and described this recipe. She is having a dinner party and thought it sounded fun. I probably should try it first but since it is chocolate, can you really go wrong? Have fun!!

Raw Chocolate Mousse

1/4 cup agave nectar

4-8 dates

Combine in a food processor

Add:

1 1/2 avocado's

1/4 cup plus 2T Chocolate.

If you haven't ever tried agave, it is kind of like honey but has more of a carmel taste. At Marlene's Market, in the bakery section, they have raw chocolate- it is in a gold bag. This is what was used by my friend at Marlene's. She said the avocado gives it a rich creamy texture. Yum.

Wildly sane with mung beans and purple potatoes

Today, during my lunch break, I made myself mung beans and purple potatoes. It was colorful, surprisingly yummy and most likely very nutritious.

This evening my aunt and uncle called, we visited about food, holidays and celebrating. My aunt Darlean told me "you only live once you know, have as much fun as you can". She celebrates most holidays. Why not? Why not try purple potatoes and celebrate Epiphany day?

I think one of the dangers of living is forgetting to live. No matter what the time of year it is, there is always something interesting to discover. It might be a new exotic food, a holiday from another country and time, or a discovery of a new love- like writing. Try experimenting with life and see what a year of exploration brings.

It is the beginning of a new year. Why not put away our old patters and try some new ones on for size. Of course, there will be flops, surprises and goofs but who cares?

There is an old saying:
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting different results."

This year be wildly sane!
Denise