{à table: granola}

As I mentioned HERE, I have started a series, à table. 

For this week....I wanted to share this amazing granola recipe! The source is from Alicia's Silverstone's book, The Kind Diet.  {Which is also linked on the right, as one of my current reads.} Don't get me started on her book.  It's fantastic!  I loooove the recipes, and even more than that, I'm further convinced about certain foods.  If you read it, be warned that it's pro-vegan, but you'll love the recipes throughout! And...there are plenty vegetarian options that would compliment any meal. 

Though I'm a self-proclaimed slacking pescetarian, and in all honesty could be easily convinced to full vegetarian status, this blog is not meant to push specific eating habits on you, but rather inspire you to make yummy food, right in your own kitchen!  And with that, I segue into this yumminess....{dressed with Almond Milk} :)

Mom's Granola - Makes 2 Quarts

6C quick-cooking oats
1/2 C maple sugar
3/4 wheat germ
1/2C shredded coconut
1/2C sesame or sunflower seeds
1C chopped nuts or raisins (*I did 1/2 and 1/2)
1/2 C safflower oil
1/3 C maple syrup (sweetest version) or brown rice syrup (slighly milder)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

*Spread the oats on a rimmed baking pan, and bake for 10 minutes.  Transfer the oats to a large mixing bowl, and add the sugar, wheat germ, coconut, seeds, and nuts or raisins. Stir to mix well, then add the oil, syrup, and vanilla extract.  Mix until everything is moistened.

*Spread half of the mixutre on each of the 2 rimmed baking sheets (or bake in 2 batches), and bake for 10 minutes.  Stir after 5 minutes to brown evenly.

*Let the baked granola cool, then transfer it to a bowl and sitr until crumbly.  Store in an airtight container.

à table and bon appétit !

{Seriously - this is a fantastic, yummy granola that even the husband and kids will love.  And, it makes a bunch!!  So, no need to pay $4 - $5 for a small box of store bought granola that's full of refined sugar and other no-need ingredients!}

{under $20 fave}

I have lots of fun kitchen gadgets that I love.  In fact, every week I pretty much declare one of them my favorite.  This week it's my salad spinner.  *Sigh* 

It's fantastic.  I know most people have a salad spinner, but I just got it.  Literally...this picture, is the first time that I used it.  AND...I got it for $16.  For some reason, I thought it would be much more, but nope.  (And, that's why I bought it...even though I wasn't out shopping for one. hehe) I'm not sure how I lived without one for so long, since we pretty much have salad every other (if not every) dinner.

Great life saver!!

{For those of you wondering...I purchased a small Zyliss Salad Spinner.}

{weekend inspiration}

There's something happy about dirty gardening gloves. They provoke a sense of accomplishment and pride...

I purchased one of the cutest pairs I've ever owned from Target - London Liberty Collection and they definitely inspired me this weekend. {On that note - I claim to be a marketer's dream!! If something is cute or appealing in any way, I pretty much want to buy it....even if it has no relation to my current interests or needs. Yes, that's right...a marketer's dream. Market it right, and I'll find a reason to "want" it.} Either way, when I saw these gloves, I knew I needed them in order to properly tend to my garden.

Here is some of what I did this weekend...

I've planted herbs in the past and tomatoes, but never lettuce, garlic, shallots, onions, strawberries and a few other treasures.  And, next weekend I plan to add a few more things. So -- here's hoping that I can keep things growing in this sunny, sunny, sunny weather!

Happy lundi (Monday)!

{happy easter}

Perhaps it's too obvious, but when I'm looking for some food ideas...especially around holidays...my go-to is Martha Stewart.  Let's be honest, she's owns the market on creativity.  Don't worry though - I like to highlight many other creative sources too.  But, becuase I love these ideas, I just had to share!

{Here's a tip...click on the title and you'll be taken to the instructions.}

Chocolate Eggs

Carrot Cheescake

Spring Cupcakes with Sugared flowers

and for the kids....
Spring Chick Cakes

Whatever you make this Easter weekend, make it beautiful!

Have a blessed Easter!!

{the perfect picnic spot...}

I'm not generally one to love the outdoors.  Don't get me wrong - I love looking at the outdoors, I just don't love 'experiencing' them.  That being said, this afternoon I had a specific desire....imagine: Mister and I hand-in-hand, walking barefoot with soft green grass under our feet.  Soon we'd happen upon a perfect spot (sunny with the perfect tree ballooning over - offering shade). We'd fold out the plaid blanket, set up a picnic and face the rippling water. Lovely...

Well, that's impossible here.  Impossible!  I was reminded of this immediately as I looked outside.  Our front yard is covered in rock and our back yard....DUST.  Does our new city even have a park?!  I know that there's no lake that we could day-dream by, but is there even a park?  (Well, of course there's a park, Naphtali. What do you think?) The question is.............is there a GREEN park?  Soft green grass?  NO.  The answer is no. Then, in a moment of brilliance, I suggested that Mister and I go to the golf course and imagine the day away - but he was quick to let me know....that...."the course in not green".  (Is that even legal?  Isn't that a rule or something?  Not a green golf course...?)

Hmm...what to do? I know I should care about the fact that there is a lack of water in this city.  And...with a lack of water, comes a myriad of usage rules, but....as I said...I had a dream for this afternoon.  *Sigh*

I wonder if the house on the corner, with the 6 feet of glorious (and obvious code- violating) green grass would freak out if I set up a picnic there?

Well, here goes nothing....


{Happy Friday to you all!}

{ladies lunch}

Fresh Tomato Tarts

9oz fresh puff pastry
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp pesto
6 plum tomatoes, sliced
Kosher Sea Salt and Crushed Black Pepper
Fresh thyme leaves to garish (optional, but so good!!)

*On a lightly floured kitchen counter, roll out pastry dough to a rectangle about 12x10 inches.
*Cut rectangle in half and divide each half into 3 pieces to make 6 even pieces. Chill for 20 minutes (ish).
*Lightly score the edges of the dough and brush with the beaten egg.
*Spread the pesto over center, leaving a border on each side.
*Arrange tomato slices on top of pesto.

*Season well with Salt and Pepper and sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves.
*Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes (until well risen and golden brown)

**This can also be made in one large rectangle instead of individual tarts.

In regards to the Pesto...you can choose to make it from scratch. It's supper easy by just blending (basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, olive oil...) BUT - as I don't always keep pine nuts on hand and generally like to "kick-up" the flavor with paste anyway, I use the below product. It's fantastic! Lasts for a long time. You can easily mix some good Olive Oil with it and dress pasta or simply spread out on a tart (like above).


Use this recipe as an excuse to have some friends over. They'll be impressed with the yumminess and you'll be happy with the easy preparation!! Oh -- and make sure to tell me if you try it!



{This recipe was adapted from an old recipe I had. I punched up the flavor with my own additions.}

{à table}

à table = a French term used to signify dinner time. It literally means "at [the] table".

I have many memories growing up when dinner would be ready and I'd hear my mom say (in her convincing French accent) "à table". Here I am years later, and though I don't have little children piling around the dinner table, my Mister has become quite familiar with the phrase. Since this term is so prominent in my life and since I love to express art through food, and since admittedly I get asked "what I'm making" several times a week, I've decided to start documenting certain dinners/recipes on my blog. I'm not a professional by ANY means, but I have fun exploring my way around the kitchen. If you're interested in me trying out anything in particular - let me know!

As for last night....?

Salmon, roasted potatoes and broccoli


Marinade:
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp finely chopped fresh ginger
1/2 tsp Asian sesame oil
1/4 cup dry sherry
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp chopped green onion
2 medium cloves minced garlic

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer slowly for 5 minutes. Strain liquid and chill. Place Salmon (or another fish of choice - I've used halibut and talapia) in a non-reactive pan and cover with marinade. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. Remove fish and cook! I barbecued the salmon in the above photo, but generally bake it. Yum!

Potatoes:

Quarter potatoes and dress with:
Olive Oil
Garlic
Chopped parsley
Kosher Sea Salt
Crushed black pepper
Bake on a cookie sheet for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.


à table and bon appétit !