tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91970831510535739792024-03-05T02:22:06.197-05:00Clean Livin'mama's gonna dance for youSara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-86725164201239353882014-11-06T18:02:00.000-05:002014-11-06T18:09:15.838-05:00Hot Raw Chef Contest!<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_3">
Hey,
all!<br />
<br />
I've entered the 2014 Hot Raw Chef Video Recipe Contest for raw
vegan holiday recipes, and <b>I need People's Choice votes!!! </b>If you're
interested in getting a healthy recipe idea, or know someone who would,
check out my video - <b>I'm Lucky #13</b>, <b><i>Sara Carmella - Savory Holiday Stuffing</i></b> - and vote
for me!<br />
<br />
Go to <b><a href="http://www.hotrawchef.com/" target="_blank">www.hotrawchef.com</a> </b>to cast your vote. <br />
<br />
Voters get a free recipe e-book and are entered to win a Vitamix 7500
high speed blender. Voting ends on the 14th.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Thanks everyone! <br />
<a href="http://www.hotrawchef.com/" target="_blank">www.hotrawchef.com</a> </div>
Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-89129629187099134702014-09-28T21:05:00.000-04:002014-09-28T21:05:06.988-04:00Raw Vegan Cheesy Kale ChipsHi All!<br />
<br />
This is my favorite recipe for Kale Chips. These chips have a cheesy flavor, but have no dairy in them at all! These are so tasty, and a great way to get more greens into your diet. <br />
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<br />
<br />
Raw Vegan Cheesy Kale Chips<br />
<br />
Ingredients: <br />
1 large bunch curly kale <br />
1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight, rinsed and drained<br />
1 large red bell pepper, chopped<br />
1/4 cup water <br />
2 dates, pitted<br />
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast<br />
1 rounded teaspoon sea salt<br />
<br />
Directions: <br />
Rinse and de-stem the kale - check out the video for an easy way to remove the stems!<br />
<br />
In high-speed blender, combine all other ingredients. Blend on high for about 30 to 45 seconds.<br />
<br />
Pour sauce over bowl of rinsed kale leaves and massage together until well mixed.<br />
<br />
Arrange evenly across two dehydrator trays (without teflex sheets - just mesh) and dehydrate at 115 degrees for 6 to 7 hours, or until chips are dry.<br />
<br />
Store any leftovers in airtight tupperware or plastic bag. (If you have any left - they're so good!)<br />
Enjoy! Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-14202770207313743102014-09-04T19:50:00.000-04:002014-09-04T19:50:59.580-04:00Creamy Lemon Tahini Salad Dressing - Dairy- and Gluten-Free!Hi All,<br />
<br />
I wanted to share this recipe with you - it's a creamy dressing that is dairy-free!<br />
<br />
There are only 3 ingredients: tahini (which are ground sesame seeds), lemon, and water. You can use equal parts of each, and adjust to make it a thinner or thicker consistency by using more or less water, and more or less lemony. Add salt and pepper to taste. <br />
<br />
I like this dressing over greens, with something a bit sweet to balance the flavor. Here I used shredded carrots and golden raisins with a sprinkle of hemp seeds for extra protein and omegas.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!<br />
<br />
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<br />Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-65909299531662431282014-01-01T14:36:00.000-05:002014-01-01T14:36:00.013-05:00Easy Gluten Free Vinaigrette Salad Dressing RecipeHappy New Year! I have lots of exciting plans for this year, and I am excited for 2014 to be here!<br />
<br />
I wanted to start the year off with this salad dressing recipe. It is super easy and simple, but there is so much flavor, it makes a salad delicious! So many pre-made salad dressings can have unpronounceable ingredients, full of nasty things. This dressing is so easy, AND you'll know what's in it!<br />
<br />
Ingredients include:<br />
Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar (I like Bragg's version)<br />
Bragg's Liquid Aminos (gluten free soy sauce)<br />
Lime Juice<br />
Olive Oil<br />
<br />
Enjoy and Happy New Year!<br />
<br />
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<br />Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-57775254879240433822013-09-14T20:28:00.004-04:002013-09-14T20:28:52.298-04:00Mango Pear Green SmoothieHi, All!<br />
<br />
When Kurt started a whole foods cleanse to lose weight a little over a year ago, one of the main things he ate were 3 to 5 vegetable and fruit smoothies per day. This mango and pear green smoothie was his own invention, and it is delicious! It's a great one for smoothie beginners, since you cannot taste any of the spinach and it's sweet and fruity.<br />
<br />
You can play around with the ratios of the ingredients to suit your taste. Feel free to add a protein powder or chia seeds if you like! Ingredients list is listed after the video below. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
1 banana, quartered<br />
3 large handfuls spinach<br />
2 pears, chopped<br />
1 cup mango, frozen cubes<br />
1 knob ginger, peeled<br />
1.5 cups water (add more for a thinner consistency)<br />
1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds) (optional - for iron!)<br />
<br />
Blend all ingredients for about 45 seconds, or until smooth. Makes at least 2 servings.<br />
<br />
<br />Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-68702517148686936112013-09-04T14:30:00.000-04:002013-09-04T14:30:29.255-04:00How to Make Almond Milk - Unsweetened and VanillaIn this video, I show you how to make plain, unsweetened almond milk, and a vanilla almond milk that is sweetened with dates. Almond milk will keep for about 2 or 3 days in the refrigerator. Just shake it, and enjoy! <br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
1 cup almonds, soaked 8-12 hours<br />
3 cups water<br />
<br />
To make Vanilla, add:<br />
6 dates, soaked 10 minutes<br />
splash of vanilla<br />
<br />
Tools:<br />
Blender<br />
Nut Milk Bag<br />
Bowl <br />
<br />
PS, I think that this is really tasty. I hope you like it as much as I do!<br />
<br />Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-35642028707014725882013-08-16T18:18:00.000-04:002013-08-16T20:22:11.046-04:00I know this is random...but maybe you'll like it!So, I made a very short film for a contest, went to upload it to their page, and they shut down the contest 6 hours earlier than they advertised! It was for crucial.com and Lou Ferrigno endorses their computer products - for computer memory and things.<br />
<br />
The contest was to make a 30 seconds or less video of you making your best ROAR at the computer like you were frustrated at it. Here's what I was going to submit. I hope you like it! :)<br />
<br />
UPDATE: I was able to submit this video to the contest! Their website's glitch was fixed! Yay! Wish me luck! ;) <br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-34635902920631235472013-08-12T11:16:00.000-04:002013-08-12T11:16:16.843-04:00Car Ride for Saba, Police Chase, and a Tour of Nearby Parks!Kurt and I were recently given an actual video camera by my generous sister and brother-in-law! Thanks Aim and BW! So now we can film things without having to lug around our lap top. We're so high tech now!<br />
<br />
So we decided to take our new camera on an outing. Some exciting things happened during the drive - and some stretches of chatting. Cute views of Saba and the nice scenery is a bonus too! Enjoy!<br />
<br />
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Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-18490352619013782912013-08-12T01:34:00.000-04:002013-08-12T01:34:01.950-04:00Red Lentil SoupHi All!<br />
<br />
This recipe is a family favorite. I think my mom invented it, I just added the kale! It's a great way to have a kind of creamy soup since the lentils break up and lose form, and all the veggies make it super tasty and healthy too!<br />
<br />
Last night, I read that gram-for-gram, cooked kale has more calcium than milk. So get your greens in for healthy bones, people! :)<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAg0tess_Iy-GOpS1SuLlBf0WvBX4s8Ih-0KT6zAE_Z5DUkq1O90mRkkB_C0h4Yzltb7InnMNZhfDY4ALOTNp0eeKKr-zst-T1kXUzwJDfRo609Hg4R6MrmMLKr-Tw8pqDTBMJxkP8u_lO/s1600/IMG_4096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAg0tess_Iy-GOpS1SuLlBf0WvBX4s8Ih-0KT6zAE_Z5DUkq1O90mRkkB_C0h4Yzltb7InnMNZhfDY4ALOTNp0eeKKr-zst-T1kXUzwJDfRo609Hg4R6MrmMLKr-Tw8pqDTBMJxkP8u_lO/s400/IMG_4096.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
<br />
1 cup of split red lentils, sorted for imperfect lentils and small stones<br />
Water<br />
3 carrots, chopped<br />
3 stalks celery, chopped<br />
1 medium onion, chopped<br />
2 medium zucchini, chopped<br />
3-6 leaves of kale, depending on size, de-stemmed and chopped into thin ribbons<br />
olive oil<br />
salt, pepper, garlic powder<br />
<br />
Directions:<br />
<br />
In a saute pan, add about a tablespoon of olive oil, and heat to medium.
Add chopped carrots, onions and celery. Season with salt, pepper, and
garlic powder. Saute over medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes - until
onions are translucent and veggies are soft.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, place sorted lentils into a sieve and rinse under running cold water. Bubbles will appear among the lentils as you rinse them. Rinse until no more bubbles appear! I think this helps them become more digestible...<br />
<br />
Fill a soup pot about half way with water. Place lentils, a teaspoon of salt, and some pepper into the water and stir. Heat to boiling. Turn down to a simmer. Skim off any foam that the lentils produce. This will also help with digestion! Let simmer 15 minutes.<br />
<br />
Stir in sauteed veggies into the pot. Simmer for 15 minutes.<br />
<br />
Add zucchini and simmer for another 15 minutes.<br />
<br />
Add kale and simmer, once again, for another 15 minutes.<br />
<br />
Test the soup for seasoning, and adjust for taste. Serve soup over some brown rice if you want to make a more filling meal.<br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-35259173091601750862013-08-02T22:13:00.001-04:002013-08-02T22:13:43.478-04:00Sweet Potato Home FriesIn attempt to make home fries a tad healthier, we swapped sweet potatoes for regular white potatoes. Funnily enough, we had orange bell peppers that matched the potatoes, too! These home fries were actually better than regular ones! They are really flavorful and the addition of spinach lets you get some greens in!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisufVI2jnNgKuPvDvENgrI3tN_jO8jCumikGnZgIU3LctEH5_eH1er-MboFVU8koOVtLh3-ug4jXLEc_xR1HU7EHQuCyFOLY0FE5JeqID8gTQuQr0u6X3xwlnhU7JsWgw8PdebCpwHhOHS/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisufVI2jnNgKuPvDvENgrI3tN_jO8jCumikGnZgIU3LctEH5_eH1er-MboFVU8koOVtLh3-ug4jXLEc_xR1HU7EHQuCyFOLY0FE5JeqID8gTQuQr0u6X3xwlnhU7JsWgw8PdebCpwHhOHS/s640/IMG_4100.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my portion. Kurt had some too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
<br />
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped<br />
1 small onion, chopped<br />
1 small orange bell pepper, chopped<br />
1 large handful of baby spinach<br />
1 clove garlic, minced<br />
1 tbsp olive oil<br />
salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste<br />
<br />
<br />
Directions:<br />
<br />
Peel and chop sweet potato. Boil or steam potatoes until just fork tender. Don't overcook. Drain or remove potatoes from steam.<br />
<br />
Heat large saute pan to medium heat. Add sweet potatoes, onion, bell pepper, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Cover to let cook, occasionally removing lid to stir, about 5 minutes.<br />
<br />
When onion and bell pepper is soft, add spinach and garlic. Saute for another minuted or two.<br />
<br />
Serve immediately and enjoy!<br />
<br />Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-83316126148572154842013-07-31T12:24:00.000-04:002013-07-31T12:24:06.072-04:00Video! Broccoli in Garlic Sauce Made Gluten FreeHi All,<br />
<br />
I wanted to try to make a video of my Broccoli in Garlic Sauce recipe. The audio is not so good, but I used my laptop to film. This is my first attempt at editing and on-camera stuff, and though I'm a bit green, I'm excited to do more and get better!<br />
<br />
I hope that you enjoy seeing how this recipe is made! <br />
<br />
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<br />
PS, I cut out the part where I can't stop laughing - but maybe I should include it in a bloopers reel!<br />
<br />
xoSara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-61333711536725967802013-07-28T18:13:00.000-04:002013-07-28T18:13:32.583-04:00Broccoli in Garlic Sauce - Made Gluten-Free!Hey all!<br />
<br />
Being gluten-free can be tricky, since gluten is found in so many products where you wouldn't expect to find it. One of those is regular soy sauce. One of my favorite Chinese food take-out meals is Broccoli in Garlic Sauce (shout out to Oriental Pearl and China Chef!). Alas, any of the brown sauces is usually an indication of the wheat-containing soy sauce. I needed to create my own recipe so I could once again have that delicious sweet/salty/slightly-spicy taste again!<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
<br />
<i>For the Sauce:</i><br />
3 tbsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos (delish wheat-free soy sauce substitute)<br />
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil<br />
3 tbsp water<br />
2 tbsp rice vinegar<br />
3-4 dates (instead of sugar!)<br />
3 cloves garlic, minced<br />
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil <br />
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust for taste)<br />
<br />
<i>For the Saute:</i><br />
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil<br />
3 large heads of broccoli, chopped into florets<br />
<br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
<br />
In a blender, blend together the Liquid Aminos, rice vinegar, olive oil, water and dates. In small sauce pan, saute the garlic and tsp of olive oil for one minute over medium heat. Pour the blended mixture into the sauce pan. Turn to low. Add red pepper flakes and stir.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, heat large saute pan to medium-high. Add tsp of olive oil and coat the bottom of pan. Add broccoli florets and saute for about 3 minutes. Once the broccoli turn bright green, pour the garlic sauce over top and saute for 30 more seconds. Take off heat.<br />
<br />
Plate the broccoli and serve with steamed brown rice. Pour extra garlic sauce over the rice. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
This serves two really hungry people, or four medium-hungry people.<br />
<br />
If you want lower sodium, use 1 tbsp less Liquid Aminos and 1 tbsp more
water, or use a reduced sodium gluten free Tamari. Here's info on <a href="http://bragg.com/products/la.html" target="_blank">Bragg's Liquid Aminos</a> and <a href="http://www.san-j.com/product_info.asp?id=4" target="_blank">San-J Tamari</a>.<br />
<br />
Note that this is not a thick sauce - I did not use any thickener. You can if you want, but I have a fear of corn starch. For reals.<br />
<br />
xo!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-47583045589033188502012-07-23T21:15:00.000-04:002012-07-23T21:15:30.872-04:00Black Bean and Avocado SalsaMy future brother and sister-in-law, Jen and Vince, make a version of this recipe often, and it is so good that I had to make it today! I didn't have all of the ingredients that they usually put into the mix, but it still turned out great! In fact, it turned out so good, that these pictures show literally the last bit of salsa left from the bowl!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW27AqBw_hOG-MWRGo3LabJpdcxdrASOMvEGIVH9N6rEPFKFxoZrgaYPg74mtQxxcgyTexr3Sbn9wGVjOYF0v94OK9Zud1fWPg0sCbE90_0FfTvgUYaqbFFUolIx15n2rFADoNiZp-gQ8q/s1600/012-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW27AqBw_hOG-MWRGo3LabJpdcxdrASOMvEGIVH9N6rEPFKFxoZrgaYPg74mtQxxcgyTexr3Sbn9wGVjOYF0v94OK9Zud1fWPg0sCbE90_0FfTvgUYaqbFFUolIx15n2rFADoNiZp-gQ8q/s400/012-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tasty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Black Bean and Avocado Salsa</b><br />
<br />
1/2 can black beans, rinsed and drained<br />
1 ear of fresh corn kernels<br />
1 medium tomato, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes<br />
1 avocado, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes<br />
1/4 cup, or less, of red onion, diced<br />
juice of 1 lime<br />
1/2 tsp cumin (don't be afraid of this spice - it makes this salsa awesome)<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
<b>Mix all ingredients together and enjoy with tortilla chips. It is also a great salad-topper or taco-topper too! </b><br />
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I'm so glad that Jen and Vince brought this delicious salsa into my life! Thank you, thank you, thank you!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyPEh5_i3dqgXEJ8VaL9yHgCQAEMq-GZ9kbp4VL-aMyCdeWBoFHg3cqOqrdb41xlW6P4fycZFrvQ9FTpDa7ooEa3fqmT97TYU_U6ve2Sjbl_78r8sIk4nITZBq4-UJ3or7U7wYvakbPHH/s1600/014+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyPEh5_i3dqgXEJ8VaL9yHgCQAEMq-GZ9kbp4VL-aMyCdeWBoFHg3cqOqrdb41xlW6P4fycZFrvQ9FTpDa7ooEa3fqmT97TYU_U6ve2Sjbl_78r8sIk4nITZBq4-UJ3or7U7wYvakbPHH/s400/014+%282%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look how much I love it - I have crazy eyes! Also, don't you love my wood-veneer cabinets? So chic!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-31765912629858451552012-07-21T18:09:00.000-04:002012-07-21T18:09:18.199-04:00Gluten-Free Vegan Oatmeal Craisin Walnut Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuERg0v7rFKoPHJGQ5gqw0sm3XblaSIj6ANHNTZLuRkeRPXyvwyhLcBIApEq2V2FmG4zQp81yv0Pu7EsWaWb2VscKMbmXw-YduvT28uRAf7VqYT_t1QWPbnuIFqwHYd_9cP95bNKL3Rsp/s1600/0721121656+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuERg0v7rFKoPHJGQ5gqw0sm3XblaSIj6ANHNTZLuRkeRPXyvwyhLcBIApEq2V2FmG4zQp81yv0Pu7EsWaWb2VscKMbmXw-YduvT28uRAf7VqYT_t1QWPbnuIFqwHYd_9cP95bNKL3Rsp/s400/0721121656+%282%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ain't no gluten in here!</td></tr>
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The last few months I've been trying to eat gluten free to see if it would help me with some tummy issues I've had for years. It's worked remarkably well, and I feel like a normal person now! My only issue is that my favorite foods are wheat-based (bread, mostly...and pizza). I've found some great substitutes, such as Udi's Bread for sandwiches, or using corn tortillas instead of flour ones, etc, but any store-bought GF cookies are super expensive. Like 6 cookies for $8.00.<br />
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So I had a hankering for "a little something sweet" as my grandma used to say, and I decided to check out some recipes online. I didn't have all of the ingredients that many of them listed, so I decided to use a few recipes as a guide and make up my own recipe. I had no clue if they would turn out ok or not, so I made a smallish batch.<br />
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Well, they turned out great! Kurt really liked them too. I'm happy with my creation, and hope that if you try this recipe out too, you'll let me know how you like them. I've added a few unusual ingredients that not everyone has in their kitchen. Feel free to omit or replace. I've listed possible replacements in parentheses.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gluten-Free Vegan Oatmeal Craisin Walnut Cookies</b></span><br />
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<b>Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F, and line a cookie tray with parchment paper.</b><br />
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<b>In large bowl, mix together wet ingredients:</b><br />
1/3 cup olive oil (or coconut oil might be tasty too!)<br />
3/4 cup coconut sugar (or other sugar)<br />
1/4 cup plain, unsweetened apple sauce<br />
1 tbsp ground flax seeds, soaked in 3 tbsp water (or replace with 1 egg)<br />
1 tbsp chia seeds, plus 1 tbsp water (can omit if you do not have)<br />
1 tbsp honey<br />
1 tsp vanilla <br />
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<b>In smaller 2nd bowl, stir together dry ingredients:</b><br />
3/4 cup Bob's Red Mill gluten free flour <br />
1/4 cup Bob's Red Mill gluten free rolled oats, ground up into a flour (I used my blender)<br />
1 tbsp ground flax seeds (can omit if you do not have)<br />
1/2 tsp baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp cinnamon<br />
1/4 tsp baking soda <br />
1/4 tsp fine sea salt<br />
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<b>Pour dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Stir together. Add to the mixture:</b><br />
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1 1/2 cup Bob's Red Mill gluten free rolled oats<br />
1/4 cup craisins (or raisins)<br />
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (can omit)<br />
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<b>If the mixture seems very wet, add a bit more oats or flour. The mixture should be able to be spooned out, but seem too sticky to handle.</b><br />
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<b>Drop large tablespoon-sized cookie dough onto the parchment-lined cookie sheet, leaving about an inch of space between cookies. Bake about 12 minutes. Cookies are done when they are golden brown on the bottom and are a bit springy when you touch the tops. Makes about 20 cookies.</b><br />
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Enjoy! <br />
We did :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXb_7FMsr1ZDPPtP_2I0QVbiLz4QoA4Hvm9vM74b58UtSL2qEk1PZew1iLcBqTViuzcs95smaIuU2x_1LowGkC8LFYUE1VBjESnr3RYxI53rzHrM1zCDy6_VV4LuLKsVyf_9b46G-cynb/s1600/0721121708a+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXb_7FMsr1ZDPPtP_2I0QVbiLz4QoA4Hvm9vM74b58UtSL2qEk1PZew1iLcBqTViuzcs95smaIuU2x_1LowGkC8LFYUE1VBjESnr3RYxI53rzHrM1zCDy6_VV4LuLKsVyf_9b46G-cynb/s400/0721121708a+%282%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>photo taken by Saba</i></td></tr>
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<br />Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-9071093030036980282010-06-29T20:58:00.000-04:002010-06-29T20:58:22.070-04:00From Garden to PlateThat's right, our first taste of the fruits of our labor.<br />
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We brought our lettuce, cucumber, kale and beet home and made a delicious salad:<br />
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Pup wanted a couple of cucumber snacks:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicM0t6wNN5eophtZ2a7VgEIopvLjt0MTV_1x6CXVYzvt0AxNMtVCQxYO8Z732zaDniylTdpiS9bWo3hl2sbogYxbO-MwHDWtLIse9LiMkM7A4tVN714WHTijDpdmDWNZMjsvOPqnK5piSk/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicM0t6wNN5eophtZ2a7VgEIopvLjt0MTV_1x6CXVYzvt0AxNMtVCQxYO8Z732zaDniylTdpiS9bWo3hl2sbogYxbO-MwHDWtLIse9LiMkM7A4tVN714WHTijDpdmDWNZMjsvOPqnK5piSk/s400/070.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgSsk3L4gS2A-5j3_rls7goKRu7OGfQGX3HOoXXUCrwDaCL7IizZSntyiv6nS7VjfRsduLgJsNBr04KagLjtiIlOdst94NX-bCv6FXU6L8C-tzED1yr4Vs3NkB_n0nnZlGkGGZZqIu679/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgSsk3L4gS2A-5j3_rls7goKRu7OGfQGX3HOoXXUCrwDaCL7IizZSntyiv6nS7VjfRsduLgJsNBr04KagLjtiIlOdst94NX-bCv6FXU6L8C-tzED1yr4Vs3NkB_n0nnZlGkGGZZqIu679/s400/071.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5LRIoJuH-8XRH90njO0ZCwiYTBF-F1Z-QQWmNw-B0MTIFe73p7P_npgES1DmsrT7fkeI2pu55HFplhl70IOQ3C0vG6cGkybgb89ypONKi30zfKFfdItLL4BgywOryelXid89a_YwArtZ/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5LRIoJuH-8XRH90njO0ZCwiYTBF-F1Z-QQWmNw-B0MTIFe73p7P_npgES1DmsrT7fkeI2pu55HFplhl70IOQ3C0vG6cGkybgb89ypONKi30zfKFfdItLL4BgywOryelXid89a_YwArtZ/s400/073.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-PCdqeUEsYY3O1wJctHB0ibcTEpIPLFc5G4gyHl2r3Lr8qxjkzhdtyduIG4IsrHhC_pva-I5jdzc0GbmMlgGty10p9LZ2hOTMRJP5E7ha534WuOS4jA1gr6ncxe7_VaQtH3lHAvNx957/s400/079.JPG" width="400" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When we tasted the cucumbers, they were so fresh and still warm from growing outdoors. The beets were sweet like carrots, not as earthy as store-bought ones. I thought they looked like they were tie dyed. The lettuce was crisp and tender. I can't wait until the tomatoes come in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The final product:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpxJ6JeYoplhlCqrFEsFZ0mSyjHzgOFJS6vswJqZxBjVWRNpvvlb5l6MrlmFeLT62jVwDEwOeqGPHZSL2TKzd_ge8emlySWNFWjlHQ70lIqL8fjDH2moPcrZGuB6S85ZBj1vn0gWWE69d/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpxJ6JeYoplhlCqrFEsFZ0mSyjHzgOFJS6vswJqZxBjVWRNpvvlb5l6MrlmFeLT62jVwDEwOeqGPHZSL2TKzd_ge8emlySWNFWjlHQ70lIqL8fjDH2moPcrZGuB6S85ZBj1vn0gWWE69d/s400/081.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So tasty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm lucky to be able to tend <i>this</i> beautiful land...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuzfUMRRsU6qIaYfVXRFtYvJQqvPWqC6EQfra5JywY3i0ymI9Deb_FPeamX0z2e5sLiTRIlQA9o9t13lnqs-zdfZtDl_-c8gRuAoTpkm6lobULW7EsKdF7z2Ps4oWZ8DE_RYFupTjzIdr/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuzfUMRRsU6qIaYfVXRFtYvJQqvPWqC6EQfra5JywY3i0ymI9Deb_FPeamX0z2e5sLiTRIlQA9o9t13lnqs-zdfZtDl_-c8gRuAoTpkm6lobULW7EsKdF7z2Ps4oWZ8DE_RYFupTjzIdr/s400/059.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...with <i>this</i> awesome guy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTeikfC-En_xWH6TX4pMF0ftwNpmJwvoTwLtoViFM0JxN_Kr66wbhOVv9YROmwABlzHEtC7efeLXh-PrGbGRXA5tm_QBwNEpyyB8jZxK6bXW3dc1-NtFdkEMRz0OfRIHBB7jslNsilAA_/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTeikfC-En_xWH6TX4pMF0ftwNpmJwvoTwLtoViFM0JxN_Kr66wbhOVv9YROmwABlzHEtC7efeLXh-PrGbGRXA5tm_QBwNEpyyB8jZxK6bXW3dc1-NtFdkEMRz0OfRIHBB7jslNsilAA_/s400/058.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Plus, I'm gettin' jacked! All that little-house-on-the-prairie water-pumping and carrying water buckets are putting some meat on my pipe cleaners! Check me out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEd0mJQjZLAx4vrHVORROvDu3YkJlcMxiVjW9VkcoJgsIXPwD7IYPA2-56itwiT0bCQ4Mg4mGwFJqAo8AqLrkqY6hIUDmiaCO-tcPCW8Ut5NYm1ri9NRJrMreYNJBmhZw-A4b0EWMZ3NE/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEd0mJQjZLAx4vrHVORROvDu3YkJlcMxiVjW9VkcoJgsIXPwD7IYPA2-56itwiT0bCQ4Mg4mGwFJqAo8AqLrkqY6hIUDmiaCO-tcPCW8Ut5NYm1ri9NRJrMreYNJBmhZw-A4b0EWMZ3NE/s400/084.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-14834928448717930682010-06-16T22:14:00.000-04:002010-06-16T22:14:03.138-04:00Garden Visitors!Our garden has seen four visitors recently! We were very excited to have my sister, <a href="http://sixtyfourlovenotes.blogspot.com/">Sixty Four Love Notes</a>, come by with her hubby, Mr. W, and have a look (don't you just love the photography and artwork on her site?!):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKZXCkY-_S7fxAZG-85hToZFh9zTretE97jRMhh4gtey2mIqT18n7BKuI0oNMFG02528OqK-NnAqWQVcTrCyTGF1Lc0evsDRRH2HP-ebiKDmmv1DZXjKMG8vagCGgvcjf49WYYrzS0ip7/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKZXCkY-_S7fxAZG-85hToZFh9zTretE97jRMhh4gtey2mIqT18n7BKuI0oNMFG02528OqK-NnAqWQVcTrCyTGF1Lc0evsDRRH2HP-ebiKDmmv1DZXjKMG8vagCGgvcjf49WYYrzS0ip7/s400/013.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>And then tonight, Kurt's parents came by to drop off a couch that we were fortunate to inherit from Kurt's sister and brother in law (thanks Jenny and Vince, it's so cozy!), so they came by:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezwKZYLDO8-ruCm_G6iwO3Bo0VlqmuDrfE4ZgD90RkuCTA3qe0vG-GrhuuPwFHCnzx7QryTCy1M0MXJIFoW5YkJezPF4JfxuClvc6qfnkvhefDoIM3linOxd-a2hA3FNcrKebVSiusRQ4/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezwKZYLDO8-ruCm_G6iwO3Bo0VlqmuDrfE4ZgD90RkuCTA3qe0vG-GrhuuPwFHCnzx7QryTCy1M0MXJIFoW5YkJezPF4JfxuClvc6qfnkvhefDoIM3linOxd-a2hA3FNcrKebVSiusRQ4/s400/001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Here's me and Kurt posing with Ulfgar - who happens to be very photogenic:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5l6KaLU-h600hdEb8TpZ1oTlFDsOGZfgZteh2rr6oZG22lK4k1g_VjAFqflJw3HGzdkUFitdCaJLWn9V4byJzbIRs-Q0N5SBqFqqAXbmJUwSnOBEO18BklDQZ_A9jhfZzqwaDAll2zCs/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5l6KaLU-h600hdEb8TpZ1oTlFDsOGZfgZteh2rr6oZG22lK4k1g_VjAFqflJw3HGzdkUFitdCaJLWn9V4byJzbIRs-Q0N5SBqFqqAXbmJUwSnOBEO18BklDQZ_A9jhfZzqwaDAll2zCs/s400/015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Look how happy we look! We love our garden! And we love our garden visitors! And we'd love for YOU to come by too!<br />
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So we've been seeing a lot of progress in growth lately. I swear you could watch the plants grow, it's that fast.<br />
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Look at these cukie cuties:<br />
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And the zucchinis are getting huge:<br />
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And watch out! The tomatoes are taking over!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWLRRIDzzfH1k1o2YgppHwFIt4o1JvUqwliEUKQ436UmTML00maE6Qjso76Tu4L2yEDMhUEyCP-FqXN3rszVbLwpIaLR_qZDLB6TJ7T6kUpeHSdyvxgi-cE9ptwzYMemQsi5qZKKIDH9p/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWLRRIDzzfH1k1o2YgppHwFIt4o1JvUqwliEUKQ436UmTML00maE6Qjso76Tu4L2yEDMhUEyCP-FqXN3rszVbLwpIaLR_qZDLB6TJ7T6kUpeHSdyvxgi-cE9ptwzYMemQsi5qZKKIDH9p/s400/053.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
The kale is nearly harvest size:<br />
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Oh here's a sleeping pup!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PwYnGXGCdWMVjhL3l_s5oPvjpp9m2QNFi_M61Ru531FctX3xqGrLxCchrBcQ_iVLYyzb9k1eDWW63UisrMNFtlGBON8LvgD-7d_ea3pnztbU0mZ6r1K6aKDV3-fIRblNX8NiWpboxAeh/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PwYnGXGCdWMVjhL3l_s5oPvjpp9m2QNFi_M61Ru531FctX3xqGrLxCchrBcQ_iVLYyzb9k1eDWW63UisrMNFtlGBON8LvgD-7d_ea3pnztbU0mZ6r1K6aKDV3-fIRblNX8NiWpboxAeh/s400/010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The beet tops are looking lovely:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3yYrsVHWg-CdcEO4Zbc9FAfTny4clmBBLEKudbo2g4cKT99ussWOYF6pQuFwtOOFuQK13D8tBAzcy3s7lhxe2PYIabxU7SZ3_sO4McliyKEZX1V1K13Ozin4QAvgjkZR_t_flFSvfxoK/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3yYrsVHWg-CdcEO4Zbc9FAfTny4clmBBLEKudbo2g4cKT99ussWOYF6pQuFwtOOFuQK13D8tBAzcy3s7lhxe2PYIabxU7SZ3_sO4McliyKEZX1V1K13Ozin4QAvgjkZR_t_flFSvfxoK/s400/063.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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And the lettuce is gorgeous:<br />
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We're actually starting to see some fruit - check it out and see if you can spot them. Sorry if some pictures are a bit blurry - I should bring my tripod.<br />
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We went on a trip to Asheville, North Carolina last week and had a great time. We toured the mountains and the city and ate lots of good food. <a href="http://www.earlygirleatery.com/">Early Girl Eatery</a> was my favorite. We stayed <a href="http://www.ashevilledowntowncondo.com/">here</a>, which was the perfect location - in the exact center of the city. <br />
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Here's Kurt communing with the mountains:<br />
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And here I am at a lookout on the way to <a href="http://www.romanticasheville.com/mtmitchell.htm">Mount Mitchell</a>, the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi<br />
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Now check them out:<br />
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I think we need to stake them up soon. <br />
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Our beans have sprouted!<br />
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I was surprised to see them popping up out of the ground so soon, but here they are! This picture shows them 2 days later. They grow very quickly!<br />
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The lettuce is currently hiding among a thick crop of weeds. Kurt and I are scared to pull any weeds out for fear that we're plucking out lettuce.<br />
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We aren't experienced enough to <i>really</i> know the sprouts that we planted from the natural field growth. I've pointed out two spots where I think lettuce is growing. It doesn't help matters that the lettuce we planted is a mixture of several types - some varieties I think will look very much like weeds even when they are one day on our plates!<br />
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First, if you can see it, I'm pointing to a green leaf with reddish speckles.<br />
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Here I'm pointing to the bright green little guy in front, and directly behind him is a darker spiney looking sprout.<br />
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For now, they'll have to compete with the weeds. <br />
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The zucchini has also begun to grow well. It's crazy, though - the instructions on the seed bag said to plant 6-8 seeds in one hole, which I did, but only one plant has emerged from each mound! Each one looks great, though, so I'm happy with it. Here's the best looking one.<br />
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The cucumbers are doing well, except for one casualty - one of the 4 seedlings died - and the fact that the seeds I sowed directly into the land haven't sprouted yet, which seems strange.<br />
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He's still smallish, but so much greener than before.<br />
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Kurt and I like going to the garden because it really is peaceful. Check out the field behind Kurt. If we don't weed, that's what our plot would look like!<br />
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Yikes! You can check out some of our other neighbors' plots too.<br />
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I almost forgot to mention that we have a new addition to the garden. A protector of sorts...<br />
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Meet Ulfgar the Garden Gnome. We feel safer with him watching over our plant babies.<br />
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Sunday we hung out at Kurt's parent's house and had a cookout with Jenny and Vince, which was a lot of fun. We decided that Saba's not too keen on <i>swimming</i>, but she does like to walk around freely on the deck. Here she is swimming towards me.<br />
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A mommy knows the look of desperation on a pup's face. And here it is:<br />
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Maybe no more swimming for awhile.Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-23201925370452682522010-05-23T18:28:00.000-04:002010-05-23T18:28:36.111-04:00A Narrated Visual Journey of this Weekend in the GardenWe started Saturday morning, Pup wanted to help. We packed up all of the plants and drove down to the garden.<br />
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We arrived after breakfast, and were shocked at how quickly weeds grow if you let them.<br />
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So we hoed and raked and hoed and hoed... And finally we were able to set out the plants and get started.<br />
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I planted while Kurt weeded, watered and carried buckets of mulch. Back to the left of Kurt next to that wooden thing is a "Little House on the Prairie" type water pump. It seriously gets your muscles working. I give Laura Ingalls credit.<br />
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Once the plants got in the ground and were mulched, it started to look like a real garden.<br />
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Here's Kurt carrying more mulch!<br />
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Notice the neighbors' plastic-covered gardens? Yesterday, several of them shared with us the "best" way to plant/mulch/take care of weeds/etc, which we found pretty annoying (since it's pretty much the opposite of how we want to do things), and a couple of them were making fun of one of our other neighbors who wasn't there because apparently he's a lazy gardener. I think I thought that the gardens would be a kind of peaceful, communal, accepting place where everyone was friendly, but I guess it's just a bunch of regular people - of all types. We decided that we shouldn't let it get on our nerves, for our own benefit, otherwise we'll just end up angry and upset. <i>Our</i> garden <i>will</i> be a peaceful and friendly place. See how happy I am? This is after 4 hours of work!<br />
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Sunday, today, was great. All of the plants, which were a bit droopy yesterday had perked up, and our neighbors, Ron and Janice, who remind me of my childhood neighbors Mae and Paul, were very chatty and funny, and laughed a lot.<br />
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We laid out newspapers along the pathways, watered them, then sprinkled straw down and mulched around the garden beds to keep weeds at bay.<br />
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Things we learned today:<br />
<ol><li>When choosing between hay and straw, note that hay has seeds and straw does not.</li>
<li>Mice can get pressed into straw bales.</li>
<li>The farmer down the road sells a giant bale of straw for $5.00, instead of 3 mini-bales that we got for $12.50</li>
<li>Wet mulch is way heavier than dry mulch.</li>
<li>(still not sure about this one) Priming the pump means pouring water into the top of the pump when it seems to go dry. I guess this creates more suction or something.</li>
<li>Jeans can get really dirty</li>
</ol><br />
Check out the before and after:<br />
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Before (Saturday AM):<br />
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After (Sunday afternoon, about 8 hours of work later):<br />
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We had originally bought 3 bags for the whole plot, but probably should have had about 25 bags. Once we saw how pitiful one bag looked dumped out on one row, we decided to mix in 3 bags per row, so after working on the first row, we left and went down the road to the old Depot and bought 6 more bags.<br />
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It was hard work. We raked out the fresh topsoil into an even layer and then went around each row, turning the soil, mixing the natural soil with the new. It's supposed to be well mixed so that there isn't just a layer of the nutrient-rich stuff sitting on top of lesser soil.<br />
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The turning of the soil was hard work, and I could really feel my muscles working! By the end, I went down a whole row, turning the soil without stopping, and my back muscles felt like they were about to give out - it was kind of awesome. I'm going to be so strong by the end of this. Kurt and I were talking about how we're going to miss this soil digging, and I said we should section off a corner of the plot that's just dirt so that we can dig it up for fun and exercise!<br />
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Friday my transplants are coming (12 pepper and tomato seedlings), and we're planning on planting them and the home-grown seedlings and direct-seeding the rest of the plants that we haven't started. Saturday we're going to mulch and put up fencing of some sort - to keep out those bun-buns!<br />
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Speaking of bunnies, my pup-bunny has discovered a great new napping location - in the dirty laundry basket! She goes in there when Kurt and I aren't on the sofa and she's sleepy at night. Here are two of the cutest views I captured.<br />
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What a cutie!Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-63583426888153818272010-05-02T15:15:00.002-04:002010-06-01T21:03:30.496-04:00Some trouble, but also some progress!So who knew shoveling dirt was very tiring?! <br />
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</div><div align="left">Kurt and I went over to the garden plot yesterday to view our plot. This past week the Department of Recreation roped out all of the plots, and I saw online that they were ready for planting May 1st. So today we went over and dug our beds and paths. We have a path all the way around the 20' x 20' square, and 2 paths down the middle, so it's going to be 3 rows of 4' x 20'. </div><br />
We started this morning at about 10:15, and left by 11:30. It was super hot, humid, and sunny, and we were working like crazy! I seriously haven't exercised since high school, and it was like jumping back in. My body is so tired!!!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two things that have been worrying me about my seedlings are that the kale is looking too leggy and they are falling over, and the cucumber leaves are turing yellowish. One is really bad and might die (see the left side of the picture).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEpynTI471FIbmq-dkl5lSW-2EIysE4IJa0GISggzZg7hOTvEKpUK-F7fFLxI0_FeuroVx_c_v2KquwqBYO50X3qftpT4oZal-1UHxOw0Yf9GFzfZsgp8q3N58I_CW4d0z5Nt4UwrLVaZ/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEpynTI471FIbmq-dkl5lSW-2EIysE4IJa0GISggzZg7hOTvEKpUK-F7fFLxI0_FeuroVx_c_v2KquwqBYO50X3qftpT4oZal-1UHxOw0Yf9GFzfZsgp8q3N58I_CW4d0z5Nt4UwrLVaZ/s400/005.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From my researching online and in my organic gardening book tells me that the cucumbers are going through one of the following:</div><ul><li><br />
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</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My guess is that they are big and over-crowding their little peat pots and have sucked up all of the nutrients that the soil provided. Tonight I'm going to conduct an experiment and use the organic plant food I bought, and see if one or two of them turn around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Regarding the kale, I feel that they probably somehow needed more (or REAL) sunlight, and that they strained themselves to get closer to the light. I'm going to plant more from seed directly into my garden anyway, so I'm not too worried. It will be interesting to see the differences once the garden-planted ones grow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our garden plot "neighbors" are nice. One side is a couple with two young children who seemed like they've got some experience - they have the narrow rows with the black paper covering them for weed control, and were already planting seeds today. I think that they have 2 plots. The other side is a nice man named Gary who talked with us about how his tomatoes didn't come in last year because of all the rain. He complimented us on our rows, which was nice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hopefully we'll have everything in the ground by the end of this week, tomato and pepper transplants included!! They're shipping tomorrow, I think, from Wisconsin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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I still check on my little guys about 10 times each day. The lamps seem to be working well, which I'm glad for. In the morning when it is sunny and I haven't turned the lamps on, everyone is leaning toward the window. Once I turn on the lamps, the all face upwards.<br />
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Here's a visual of the progress I've seen in the last few days.<br />
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Wednesday, April 14th:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thursday, April 15th:</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTV6sATRXGaLMaSpWiEQpfvFeSCllLi2_rZUqPm1IED09cZrEiLfw7g_-BNyXxRnniSZ_ogNcKC-_nJ1kK441IirI-MgebFcNl1jZB0jfseboLruSrmURR51SxL1EbkHMG-OH-M4-seO57/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTV6sATRXGaLMaSpWiEQpfvFeSCllLi2_rZUqPm1IED09cZrEiLfw7g_-BNyXxRnniSZ_ogNcKC-_nJ1kK441IirI-MgebFcNl1jZB0jfseboLruSrmURR51SxL1EbkHMG-OH-M4-seO57/s400/013.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Saturday morning, April 17th:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxDI84PRoT4lTWFBnMp1yn6PZu3eM9C4sCqUshuPTGEyBjkpGh12mDTir38ocjpsxzyb5Ga5H6ZPh_ams2h8iCPvAVTs76fzrnzvjvuR2_ZKrE-I0vbbnCPumO9doeL0J8P9La88oqE1s/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxDI84PRoT4lTWFBnMp1yn6PZu3eM9C4sCqUshuPTGEyBjkpGh12mDTir38ocjpsxzyb5Ga5H6ZPh_ams2h8iCPvAVTs76fzrnzvjvuR2_ZKrE-I0vbbnCPumO9doeL0J8P9La88oqE1s/s400/024.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
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That is some crazy growth!<br />
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I love the look of the kale leaves - when they first sprouted, they were that deep grassy green, but the edges of the leaves had a purple-ish tinge to them. <br />
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The cucumber seedlings are so full and sturdy, though. They amaze me! Yesterday I noticed that their stems looked a bit spiney, soI touched one of them to see, and it was - what a good deterrant to being eaten!<br />
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What a bunch of winners these guys will be!<br />
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On a side note, Kurt and I had been going to a certain chain hamburger joint because they had veggie burgers. Last night, after we ate we talked about how we both didn't really even like the place, and how we were going just because they had these veggie burgers that are kind of gross (grain-based with cheese mixed in for flavor, and seem to be fried in peanut oil). It is almost like eating a hash brown, but in a gross way. <br />
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So we decided to not go there anymore, and on the way out, we went a couple doors down and got a menu from an Indian restaurant that looks really good! Two of our friends have gone there and loved it, and the menu is quite reasonable. So we're excited to delve into the world of Indian food, where they actually have an appreciation for vegetarian options! I'll let you know how we like it!Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-86968053028108069542010-04-11T20:06:00.001-04:002010-04-11T20:09:19.153-04:00Oh tiny seedlings, I see you!Seedlings have sprouted! I noticed them last night, and then today they really popped! They are all 4 kale pots, each one with 3 or so little green guys. I'm really excited, since the other pots have basil and parsley, which I grew last summer so I know their "process". (Cucumber would be exciting too, but they are big seeds, and I don't expect them to sprout for a few more days).<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since they sprouted, and I'm worried that they won't get enough "sunlight", we went out and bought another full spectrum lamp. I figure that we'll use them as matching table lamps eventually, so it's not a waste.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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Who are these cuties?!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Gardening!</div>Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-45705717494525553482010-04-07T23:55:00.000-04:002010-04-07T23:55:23.638-04:00Indoor Sowing DayOn the 16th of March I signed up for my garden plot - section 89! There was a long line at the Department of Recreation at the Municipal building that morning. I showed up at 8:36am (they opened at 8:30), and there were only a few spots left once I got to the front of the line. I think I got a good spot - near the center aisle, and with good sunlight. <br />
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The past few days, Kurt and I have been gathering soil, peat pots, a watering can, buckets, tools (from his dad), and other necessities from some garden stores in the area in preparation for my seeds that were scheduled to arrive from the <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/">Seed Savers Exchange</a>. Several days ago I had placed the order online for seeds and transplants. The transplants are coming around May 7th or so - in time for Zone 6's last frost.<br />
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I ordered:<br />
Seeds - <br />
Red Russian Kale (organic)<br />
Provider Beans (organic)<br />
Early Blood Turnip Beets (organic)<br />
Scarlet Nantes Carrots<br />
Five Color Silverbeet Chard (organic)<br />
Early Fortune Cucumber (organic)<br />
Black Beauty Zucchini Squash (organic)<br />
Lettuce Leaf Basil<br />
Triple Curled Parsley (organic)<br />
Lettuce Mixture (Amish Deer Tongue, Australian Yellowleaf, Bronze Arrowhead, Forellenschuss, Lollo Rossa, Pablo, Red Velvet, and Reine des Glaces)<br />
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Kurt and I planned out our garden plot - 20' by 20' with 2' pathways, marigolds interspersed for (hopefully) pest control (keepin' it real - organic style!)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So today, when the seeds arrived, we decided to sow them indoors right away (though being a new gardener, I didn't realize that many of the seeds can be sown directly into the soil and don't require starting indoors). The ones that can be started indoors are kale, cucumber, basil and parsley.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I planted 3 seeds of each into 4 peat pots per veggie/herb. Once I determine the strongest seedling, I'll thin the rest and leave one plant to grow.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">We bought a "full spectrum" light (which Kurt will use as a reading lamp once we no longer need it for the seedlings) to help with the germination. Our apartment has a nice little balcony, but unfortunately it faces north and doesn't get any real direct sunlight until about 3 or 4pm in the summer. Our south facing windows are ok for some plants, but I'm hoping that the lamp will work until it's time to transplant.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Speaking of transplants, the ones we chose are:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tomatoes -</div><div style="text-align: left;">Brandywine (large for slicing)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Stuppice (2", extremely early, good yields)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Hartman's Yellow Gooseberry (yellow, small cherry-size)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mexico Midget (red, small cherry-size)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Peppers (all sweet) -</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sweet Chocolate (brown, but "red" flavor)</div><div style="text-align: left;">King of the North (best variety red)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Orange Bell (great flavor)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">More on the transplants once they arrive. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We're waiting for the "rules and regulations" of the community garden to arrive any day now - tonight when we drove by, we saw that they had plowed the land (tilled the soil? plowed under the ground cover? I don't know farmer-terminology!), so I know that we'll be able to get on to the land soon and start planting! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">By the way, we bought a 5-gallon bucket with a lid that I want to use for composting our vegetable scraps. I think I just need to drill or punch some holes into it, maybe throw in some worms or something - I need to research it more, but I'm excited about it!</div>Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-30943204900495920132010-03-01T21:54:00.001-05:002010-04-07T23:56:23.705-04:00A Garden is a Possibility!This afternoon, our community's Recreation Department brochure came in the mail. I glanced through it, looking for classes or any interesting things, and there it was on page 22: <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">COMMUNITY GARDENS</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I couldn't believe it - I've been trying to find out where/how/when to sign up for a community garden plot for about 3/4 of a year now. I saw some garden plots off to the side of the main road last summer, but couldn't find any information online. Finally I have the info! For just $20 for the season, you get a 20' x 20' plot of earth. That's 400 square feet! It's first come, first served for newbies after the people who did it last year sign up and they have 120 plots - so I'm hoping that I will get a plot. Tuesday the 16th is the day... wish me luck!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's what I want to grow in my garden, using all organic growing techniques, of course: tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers, spring onions, zucchini, swiss chard, lettuce, beets, carrots, basil, parsley, broccoli, onions, potatoes, and more! I don't know what I would start with, being a new gardener. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Any suggestions? What do you think are the easier things to grow?</div>Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197083151053573979.post-64346438983448258292010-01-02T01:25:00.000-05:002010-01-02T01:25:40.334-05:00Happy New Year! 2010 will be the greatest year ever.Hi everyone, just a quick post to say Happy New Year to all. I plan on making 2010 the best year ever by committing to the choice to be creative, healthy and happy. <br />
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I got a new sewing machine today (big sale at JoAnn's) and I made 2 tote bags tonight! One was based on a tote we use for shopping, and the other I made from no pattern - it is a gift for my friend Lauren who is visiting tomorrow. I can't find my camera, but I'll try to find it and take pictures of them tomorrow to show you. <br />
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Note: don't try to put your dog in the new tote bag you made like it's a Baby Bjorn (sp?) when you know she'll try to chew her way out and not be too pleased...and your fiance will ask you what you think you're doing. This totally didn't happen to me. It was some other person.<br />
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Hope you're starting the new year in your own great way!Sara Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02208533538824874048noreply@blogger.com5