Pink Lady Apple Slaw with Toasted Fennel Seed and Lemon Oil

This simple vegan slaw contains wonderful medicinal healing ingredients, and a fresh, light flavor. With six ingredients, and about ten minutes prep time, it’s quick to prepare for a picnic or side. I’ve been experimenting cooking with organic lemon oil – usually reserved in the past for flavoring baked goods. I’ve tried it with steamed…

The April Fool’s Day Banana, along with a tasty recipe for Banana Jam

Long ago, in the cavern of time, when I was a young mom and my son was 8 or 9, there was the celebrating of every holiday together, and particular fun come April 1st. According to the scholarly words of Wikipedia: “April Fools’ Day (sometimes called All Fools’ Day) is an informal holiday celebrated every year on…

Cream of Roast Apple and Carrot Coconut Curry Soup

In this in-between-crazy-mixed-up-seasonal-phase here in northern Colorado, the calendar says spring, and the first garden plantings have begun. Then two nights in a row we had winter – skiffs, dustings, plus measurable snows! Irregardless, seventeen hills of high yield russet potatoes; red, yellow and white onions; snow, sugar snap and early shelling peas; plus mesclun…

Tempeh and Wild Mushroom Stroganoff

Stroganoff….. with a little twist. I’ve been making this recipe for years. At times, in restaurant and guest ranch venues, it has been made with elk or venison. This recipe is a crowd pleaser. And rich, earthy fragrances fill the kitchen. What more could you ask for? 2 pkg. traditional tempeh, cut into thin slices 8…

Scalloped Kale and Yukon Gold Potatoes

Late summer, I was glad one of my Paonia garden kale transplants had thrived in the new garden. Baked a little summer comfort food dish one of those kinda-chilly-for-August nights. And an even more excellent dish now in winter months. Matched with a pile of sliced taters, the earthiness of the kale melds with ((butter!!))…

God is in the Details ~ and the Christmas Pears

God – Goddess – Creator – Holy Spirit – Allah – Universal Light – is definitely in the details. However you perceive the life force, the movement of this un-nameable essence flows throughout everything. I pray we are moving towards that time when we realize we are all believing in the same thing. And let go of the…

Lemon Verbena Shortbread

Doesn’t the smell of lemon verbena make you just swoon with delight?! This summer our plant in the garden grew by leaps and bounds, and I would literally stick my face in it, rub my fingers in the leaves and breathe in the scent in deep, luxurious breaths. When I traveled to Ecuador in the…

Cabernet Chocolate Truffles

Luscious, incredible, creamy, ecstasy invoking truffles… Flavored lovingly with one of the most intoxicating fragrances – the zested clementine… – and a good splash of Cabernet, simmered down to virtually a syrup, deepening the truffles with rich, concentrated, elusive mmmm. Having a little sip of wine as the afternoon rolled into evening, I could not resist making these…

Leek Gratin with Asiago Jarlsberg Mornay Sauce

Late fall and winter actually become easier to bear when it’s finally snowing, and just beautiful to be outside! What eases the early darkness of this season even more for me is, coming back indoors, watching a fire in the fireplace, and – let’s face it – the amazing foods of the season! Freshly pulled leeks are…

The Revelation of Home-made Oat Milk

A few days ago, I ran out of my customary carton of almond milk, early in the morning. A gray, blustery fall day. My breakfast appetite was yearning for oatmeal and honey, but without milk, hmmm! What to do? My answer to this question has created a revelation in my kitchen. Home made oat milk….

The Celestial Crepe

O! To the Yin and Yang of life! To these delicious GF crepes! Upon a closer look of this kitchen creation, a deep understanding of stars, orbits and all kinds of celestial goings on takes place when you behold. Do you doubt?! Look! True amazement in a humble crepe! I made just one yin yang crepe (the tail ends of…