Changing Seasons

Surprise! Let the summer harvest begin.There is something magical about the changing of the seasons. From sluggish, hot, ill-tempered summer (too negative?), which beckons us to ice-cold treats, to breezy autumn with its perfect nights and spiced cakes and butternut squash and ciders... Watching the trees let go of their leaves as they fade into the early evenings of winter, when a warm oven puts forth its best work. From chilly mornings that call for a pea coat and a hot cup of coffee to spring, glorious spring: Wherein everything and everyone is rejuvenated, and every recipe calls for asparagus,...

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Lemons and Parsley and Capers, Oh My!

Parsley pesto with lemon and walnuts.This may come as a surprise, but I daydream about my garden all the time.Shocked, aren't you?When I noticed the first fruits on the vines, a wave of joy came over me. It's another season, and these plants are beginning to feed us. A few weeks ago when I readied the soil and lovingly set each one in the dirt, eating their fruit seemed so far away.The zucchini and squash plants, which I purchased as young transplants from a local nursery, have taken off and grown so quickly. The leaves on the zucchini plants are extraordinary—I'd forgotten how big they get, and...

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Wordless Wednesday: First Fruits

Cucumber vines putting out blooms and crawling up the trellises.Zucchini plants blooming all down the row. The first banana pepper!An heirloom pole bean snakes up its trellis.A pattypan squash hangs like an ornament on the vine.Pole beans and edamame look happy together.First fruits: two zucchini and one pattypan squash harvested today!Hempseed veggie burger with Texas goat cheese from Hopdoddy.&nb...

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Busy? Healthy Food is Quick!

Last week was a bit wild. There were bikes to pick up, donations to finalize, travel plans to be made, softball games, and more. We were running around like mad—how on earth would dinner ever make it to the table?One of my favorite ways to deal with a busy weeknight and still get a healthy meal on the books is to turn to frozen vegetables. I toss frozen veggies together with anything fresh we have on hand to make a stir fry (more like steamed vegetables) and serve it with brown rice. Last week, I sauteed garlic and green onions, then added fresh mushrooms, carrots, frozen peas, and frozen broccoli.I...

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Crossing the Finish Line

Rolling through Fayetteville; grateful for all these awesome supporters!Sorry for the lack of blogging last week—Ryan and I were revving up for the BPMS150, a bike ride over two days from Houston to Austin. Since last fall, we have been fundraising and riding toward a cure for multiple sclerosis as a part of Team Amy. There were 18 of us riders on the team this year. We ride in honor of my cousin, Amy, and yesterday we rolled into Austin after 131* miles to greet her at the finish line. (And if you're so inclined, you can still donate here!)It's been an amazing experience, albeit a wild ride,...

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On Finding Inspiration

gnocchi from Fast Boy on Vimeo.I had a moment of inspiration in the kitchen over the weekend, when I felt compelled to bake cookies and was rewarded for my act with the smiles on my husband's and friends' faces. And, of course, ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies to enjoy myself.Being in the kitchen, creating, making something that brings people happiness—that's what I love about cooking. I love the process. The rocking back and forth of the knife, the boiling of the water, the final touches with a sprinkle of cheese.We all know that not every meal is special; we eat to sustain, we cook something...

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Cookies for a Sunday Afternoon

Let's say you've spent your Sunday having coffee with your favorite person and doing little chores around the house. Laundry, a couple of errands, maybe some grocery shopping. And let's go ahead and say it's a cool, cloudy day that's threatening to bless the thirsty earth with rain (maybe).It's a lazy day, a lovely day. Your husband puts up a game in the front yard consisting of a deck screw, some twine, and a metal ring. The neighbors stop by to watch you swing the ring on a string toward the screw in the tree. It looks simple, but you soon find that the goal of landing the ring on the screw...

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Freshworthy Friday: A New Rule for Antibiotics

They said the food movement was gaining momentum. They said it would begin making an impact. They said it was possibly the thing that could save the environmental movement.The food movement, the food revolution, a focus on ethical and sustainable food—that's the whole reason Sustainable Diet exists. So believe me when I say I'm excited to hear the food news from this week; while many say it's not enough, it is a start.U.S. Tightens Rules on Antibiotics Use for LivestockGardiner Harris, NY TimesOn Wednesday, the FDA announced a new rule requiring farmers and ranchers to get a prescription...

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Early Summer Garden Tour

Here's the garden plan which has helped me tremendously. No more impulse buys or super-crowded beds. Well, almost.I hope this is as much a treat for you as it is for me! (GARDENERD ALERT.) I was so excited to get home to the garden last night and take photos, because I knew it was finally time to show everyone how the plants are doing.They're alive. Which is fan-TAS-tic. And many of them are blooming!You may notice a few strange things, like white dust everywhere and random logs in the garden beds. These are attempts at keeping pests at bay. The white dust is both DT (diatomaceous earth) and BT...

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The Chicken Who Came to Visit

Speaking of chickens and eggs, we had a momentary chicken buddy this weekend!Before we could saddle up on our bikes for our Saturday morning coffee date, we were sidelined by this pretty bird. Fin noticed it first; it (we still aren't sure if this is a rooster or a hen; I'd be happy to know!) had been quietly sitting in our front garden bed, minding its own business, when Fin spotted it and went to give a friendly sniff.In a matter of seconds, we had a lanky, clumsy, curious (but well-intentioned, I assure you!) dog and a terrified, speckled chicken running around our front yard. Before things...

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Many Thanks... And Sustainable Diet News!

Setting a good example... But seriously, gross. It's been an exciting few weeks at Sustainable Diet!First of all, I caught this enormous man-eater normal-sized fish at the family farm this weekend (like how far away from my face I'm keeping it?), then conscientiously objected when it was time to fillet it. It was released back into the tank to populate it with more freshwater bass. But that big catch is not the only reason I'm grinning from ear to ear (while wearing obscenely large sunglasses).I am thrilled and amazed and encouraged by the readers of Sustainable Diet. Seriously....

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Freshworthy Friday: The Chicken and The Egg

Photo by flickr user Gina Pina, licensed under Creative Commons.After two-plus years of vegetarianism, I branched out for the sake of brisket. A couple of times since then, I've sneaked a small bite of chicken off my husband's plate, and remarked, "I'm kind of over the texture of chicken." It's true; I don't much care for it any more. Eggs are clearly another story.That said, I'm glad I'm over chicken. Because while I would always, always opt for organic and sustainably raised chicken if I were buying it to cook myself, I might not have that option when eating out.Which leads me to the news of...

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If It Grows, It Grows.

Zucchini plants guarded by red Solo cup barriers.I've been posting "Wordless Wednesdays," with plenty of pictures. But today, I just have a thought to share.Gardening requires love, patience, work, and the right attitude. It requires that you relinquish a little control, and understand that you cannot predict the future.I spent a bit of my day worrying about squash vine borers. Last year, all my cucurbits—cucumbers, squash, butternut, and melons—were decimated by vine borers. I didn't even know what they were at the time, but quickly learned that they are the bane to any squash farmer's...

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Easter Eggs

Poached eggs with sauteed collards on toast.I don't remember poached eggs being a part of my childhood—we were mostly a scrambled or over-easy family. Scrambled eggs were served with cinnamon toast (you make a sandwich, see, by folding each full piece of cinnamon toast in half and putting your scrambled eggs in the middle, DUH) and fried eggs, over easy, which were always plopped on top of a piece of toast—one that already boasted butter and jam. Seriously, try it if you haven't already. Toast, butter, strawberry jam, fried egg over easy, salt and pepper, you can't go wrong.Quiche, breakfast tacos,...

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What's Healthy, Anyway?

It's not always spelt muffins, home-grown veggies, and green smoothies at our house. We know how to cut loose and enjoy the finer things in life, too. See? Meet the Great Northern ale, made by the brewers at the Draught House in Austin. Ryan was a huge fan—normally, I shy away from hoppier beers. That sunny afternoon, I enjoyed a pint of Alteration from Hops & Grain.There are things in life, like finely-crafted beers, that are always worth it. But how do you keep the way you eat in check?Part of having a sustainable diet is making provisions for things you really enjoy. We both love beer,...

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