Monday, November 14, 2011

Appetite

This is how I make a smoothie:

In blender put some fat-free plain Greek yogurt. Add a few prunes, a few dried cherries. These make it sweet. Plus- fiber! Throw in frozen berries of your choice. Straw, blue, black. Whatever. Add a banana. Palm-full of almonds. Juice of an orange. Water enough to make it blendy.
Blend it.
Frozen banana if your berries are fresh. Pineapple added is the best.
Apples will work too. So will pears. Peaches and nectarines are beyond swell. Here's something I just realized: All fruits go together in a tasteful fashion.
Drink it up. There. You've had enough fruit and some other good stuff to last you the day if you don't get hungry.
Of course we get hungry.

Last night I made Madame Radish King's recipe for baked butternut squash with apples. It was awesome and I especially loved the part where I massaged the olive oil and salt and pepper into the squash halves.
I also made a salad from the garden with all sorts of beautiful tiny leaves and one grated carrot. I tried to make Denise's salad dressing but I can never do it right. Never.
Here's what's in it. You can try.

Olive oil
Cider vinegar
Garlic
Salt and pepper
Dried mustard

Best salad dressing in the world. Simple.
Still. I can't make it like Denise does.

I like simple things. To eat. To deal with. To think about.
Simple is good but it's not always easy.

Good morning. It is very bright and shiny here today. My smoothie tastes delicious. I still have a half of a baked butternut squash in the refrigerator. I have a garden-full of tiny lettuces. I have a handful of potatoes that I dug up after the freeze.
I have strong legs. I have gorgeous chickens and many eggs. I have a car I am going to drive to town today to see if that soft, soft jacket is still at the Goodwill. I have a grandson I am going to stop by and see.

Quite simply, I am as lucky as lucky can be.

Quite simply.

12 comments:

  1. Mangos...can't forget the most perfect mango. :)

    Yes it's important to remember how lucky we really are. Hugs to you this morning Ms. Moon.

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  2. Those legs are not only strong, they are gorgeous!

    Good luck with the soft coat, I'll cross my fingers that even if it isn't there, you'll find another treasure.

    I went to mine (GW) on Sunday and found 4 pairs of 16" tapers made of beeswax - still wrapped in their original tissue paper with a gold seal - from the 1960's. ( $1.99 each exquisite pair!) They were handmade and each came with a note from the maker bearing sincere wishes that they would provide a beautiful and loving light for their recipient. They did! I used them on my altar last night and dedicated their light to you and all these lovely people you draw to your flame.

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  3. I sure wish I wanted a smoothie in the winter but somehow drinking cold drinks just doesn't work. This time of year all I think of is warm cider, a latte, tea...and a warm blanket!

    I love butternut squash!!!

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  4. I recommend non-fat cottage cheese for protein. Though the Greek yogurt is in a similar ballpark.

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  5. Greek yogurt is my favorite staple right now. If my family wouldn't protest so it would be the only thing in the fridge. Greek yogurt, fruit both fresh and dried, and a container of half and half.

    By the way, I saw this and thought of your sweet grandson: http://www.parents.com/holiday/thanksgiving/crafts/thanksgiving-decorations-kids-can-make/?page=10

    Too cute, huh? :)

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  6. Oh yum. I always sneak in a titch of brewer's yeast too, old hippie that I am.

    XXX Beth

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  7. Your vinaigrette will work if you use wet mustard gray poupon or one of those fancy seedy ones. They will cause the dressing to emulsify. The other way is to drizzle the oil in and whisk like crazy. Then it will emulsify for a little but you have to eat it quick. I have half of the squash here for lunch. A smoothie would be perfect!
    xo

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  8. Yummmmm.

    Waiting to see if you got the jacket. Fingers crossed for you.

    Oh here's my salad dressing recipe, if you want to make a try at a similar one:
    3/4 C. olive oil
    1/8 C. balsamic vinegar
    1/8 C. white wine vinegar
    1 tsp. dijon mustard
    salt and pepper, to taste
    Blend in blender. Or just with a fork. Or shake in a jar.

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  9. I hope you got the jacket! I love smoothies anytime, day or night, winter or summer. They just sit right in the stomach.

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  10. Mel's Way- i find it difficult to use mangoes in a smoothie. Plus, I would rather just eat them.

    Liv-If there is any sort of magic I believe in, it is candle magic. Thank-you, love. Thank you.

    Ellen- Well, since it is getting into the high seventies here, smoothies are still quite all right. But I understand!

    Stephanie- I do love the cottage cheese too.

    Silverfinofhope- Haha! Love it.

    Beth Coyote- I make sauces from nutritional yeast. Yum.

    Madame King- I emulsified the hell out of that dressing in the blender. It was almost right. But not quite And yes! I did use some Grey Poupon!

    Denise- Oil and vinegar. Salt and pepper. That's all it really requires. You're right.

    Rubye Jack- And they feel so...right.

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  11. I went to a dinner party the other night and had a salad dressed by another Italian/American girl, and it tasted exactly like the dressings I grew up with. No emulsifying necessary. Just drizzle olive oil over the salad and squeeze lots of lemon juice on it. Then add lots of salt and freshly ground pepper. So good, so much easier than the French kind. If you're Middle Easterny, you can add some dried mint.

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  12. I like your recipes and print them out. We are going to do butternut squash this winter--soup, baked, whatever.

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