Good morning everyone! I hope you all are doing well in your corners of the world. If not then I’m sending my energy your way. I can’t explain why I’m feeling this way right now, but who’s questioning? Even a completely flat tire on my bike couldn’t get me down. No, instead I was excited that I finally had a reason to replace my old one, and that would just mean a smoother ride. Not to mention, while waiting for my bike to get fixed I learned a few tips from the cute guy fixing it!
- She wanted to cuddle longer, but I had to get ready for class!
- I had a package of hemp seeds waiting to be used.
- Toasting them with a bit of sea salt gave my breakfast sweet and salty flavor a lot of us like.
It tasted so good! After reading about hemp in one of Brendan Brazier’s books, I became even more interested in this fascinating plant. It’s crazy to think of why it was probably made illegal to grow this crop in the United States anyway. Let me just mention that the Rockefellers had a lot to do with this decision, and they are synonymous with crude oil. Henry Ford actually intended for his cars to run off of hemp seed oil. See a connection? Anyway, this plant has a lot of health benefits. It contains the protein, globulin edistin, that’s found in our DNA and it contains the highest amount in the plant kingdom. “More importantly, they are responsible for both the natural and acquired immunity a person has against invading organisms. The body uses globulin proteins to make antibodies which attack infecting agents (antigens) that invade the body. Globulins like gamma globulin are absolutely essential to maintain a healthy immune system. They neutralize alien microorganisms and toxins.“
- Trying to figure out which veggies taste good with this ginger vinaigrette.
Do any of you have suggestions? Maybe I should try putting it on some vegetables and grill them!
- The other day I checked out this interesting exhibition featuring South African artists.
- I haven’t been to this art center since its renovation.
The exhibition made me think of all of the changes South Africa has undergone. Especially because it presented artists from that part of the world from four different generations. It was interesting to see what kind of work came out during the apartheid and after the era. It also made me think about how I would feel if I was living in a country where my ancestors came from, and then my rights were taken away by a group of people that settled there. I find it empowering that despite the circumstances, some people were able to manifest their struggles into something greater by trying to change things. Although some of those tactics were violent, it’s incredible to see a human spirit holding on and not being broken. On a much smaller scale, this is why I think it’s important to hold on to your beliefs, but still keeping an open mind. Knowing where you stand gives you confidence, but being able to listen I think also leads to a better understanding of each other.
- I came home and I made a poor man’s paella!
Poor Man’s Paella
(for the spices I didn’t measure, so it’s up to your taste)
1 1/2 cup brown rice
Turmeric, (I used turmeric since I don’t have saffron, but you guys have saffron threads)
Spanish smoked paprika
Ground cumin
Dash cayenne
A couple splashes of hickory smoke sauce
4 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 red or yellow bell pepper, chopped
3 cups red kidney beans, cooked
2 3/4 – 3 cups vegetable broth
2 medium zucchini, sliced
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
1 can artichoke hearts, rinsed and cut into quarters
Extra Virgin olive oil
Sauté onion and garlic in a deep non-stick skillet. Add the rice and turmeric and cook, stirring, for another 2 minutes. Add paprika, cumin, cayenne, tomatoes, peppers, and 2 3/4 cups vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to very low, and cook covered for till the rice is cooked.
Check to see if more broth is needed. If it looks dry, add the remaining vegetable broth. Throw in the beans, and place the zucchini on top of the rice and re-cover. Cook for about 5 more minutes, until rice is done. Remove the cover, stir in the peas, and cook uncovered until peas are warm and all liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Arrange the artichoke hearts on the top and serve. Add salt at the table, if necessary. **And drizzle on some olive oil at the end.
Makes about 6 servings.
And I tried the pepper one of the vendors at the farmer's market gave me--no turning back!
It actually wasn’t spicy, but maybe it’s because I took the tiniest bite. I’m such a scaredy cat when it comes to spicy things!
I decided to give the hemp protein another go with my oatmeal.
Mixed with honey, peaches, dates, banana, and coconut milk it wasn’t bad!
Oh I will definitely be making more of this dish during the cold seasons!
I kind of followed this recipe for roasted sweet potato salad with warm chutney dressing. I didn’t have pepitas on hand so I used my curried sunflower seeds instead. Oh my goodness this was brimming with flavors from the sweet potato, sweet dried cranberries, onions, the seeds, rosemary, and the dressing of course!
I've also taken some time for personal reading before the semester gets busy!
And Matilda is a smart pup peering over my shoulder.
I think I'm also fascinated by hemp protein's green color!
I think it looks so cool with different berries like blueberries and strawberries, then contrast it with something white like coconut milk. Yeah, this is my thinking process sometimes when I put meals together.
First day of my last year in college, looking like I came straight out of the 70's.
As Conan O'brien would say, "keep cool my babies."
It’s Friday–enjoy!
And don’t forget about your chance at winning some Kroeger Herb goodies!
1. Go to their site and comment on this post telling me something you learned.
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3. Follow them on Facebook.
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Make sure to get your entries in by today, Friday, August 27. Best of luck everyone!
