Raspberry Nectarine Crumble

Sometimes life gets too darn busy and certain things fall by the wayside.  Like, say for instance, blog postings (mea culpa, mea culpa).  So when you want to bake something special, but are feeling swamped with too many responsibilities, big and small, a simple and uncomplicated dessert is so very much appreciated.  If you've been following my blog for any amount of time, one thing is probably very clear--I don't make too many things that require too much fuss.  Of course, there are always special occasions that I am more than happy to spend a little extra time and creativity on.  But, for the most part, I love recipes that come together fairly easily and quickly, so long as they are full of flavor.  Segue to this decidedly un-fussy yet delicious crumble, just right for the cooler weather, made even better by the addition of oats, nuts and barley flour...practically guilt-free!  The sweet nectarines and tart raspberries compliment each other perfectly.  The pumpkin seeds in the topping provide a salty, crunchy foil to the tang of the fruit (and I simply adore their gorgeous green color).  Unsophisticated?  Perhaps, but delectable with some good-for-you-delicious tweaks thrown in because, well, that's how I roll (wink, wink), and oh-so-special to me because it comes together in a flash.  In my book, a perfect dessert.

Rice and Lentils

I don't know if I'm becoming a reluctant carnivore or if I am just an ambivalent vegetarian at heart, but as the years slip past I find myself leaning more and more towards meatless meals.  Not really for any moral or spiritual reasons, but just because I find meat sometimes, well, superfluous.  Now, not to say that I don't enjoy a lovely piece of crisp, salty bacon here and there, or a chewy rib from one of the many delightful barbecue restaurants here in K.C., but those adventures are becoming less the norm and more the exception for me.  These days, there are many wonderful complex carbohydrate options out there, and this recipe features one of my new favorites--brown jasmine rice.  Back in the day, brown rice was for the real hippies, dense and extremely chewy, and took for-ev-er to cook.  Nowadays, the brown rice options available on the store shelves should dissolve anyone's reservations.  Brown jasmine rice has all the wonderful fragrant and light qualities of regular jasmine rice, but has a lovely, nutty whole grain flavor and texture that I think is so much more interesting.  So, whether you are a card-carrying vegetarian, or a reluctant carnivore such as myself, this dish will satisfy all those taste buds, whatever their leanings...with just a little help from some slightly exotic spices to keep things interesting. 

Lemon Loaf

As I'm looking outside my windows right now, it is gray, chilly and damp, and I'm left wondering who the heck stole August, and when, I ask, are they bringing it back?!!  Well, I am already waxing nostalgic for those bright summer days (not too hot, mind you), pleasant breezes and blue skies.  Although I love all the yummy dishes that the cooler weather brings to mind, I'm just not quite ready for pumpkin bread, apple crisps, and maple scones...yet (I'm sure I'll wake up tomorrow with a totally different mindset).

But for now, I just happened to have three Meyer lemons calling lovingly to me from the fridge.  So, as a final adieu to summer (and my final citrus recipe for the season), I thought I would send you all a postcard in the form of a sweet recipe to remind you of those uncomplicated, bright, sunshiny days.  

Having a wonderful time...the weather's been lovely...wish you were here...

Snickerdoodles

Once upon a time there was a girl who had a heartfelt desire to share her cooking adventures with anyone who might be interested.  She had suffered a health wake-up call once in her past that had sparked a reawakening of her life-long interest in nutrition, and so began the ongoing (and thoroughly enjoyable) journey to better health, through better eating.  Now, over the years, this girl began tweaking recipes, trying to come up with healthy alternatives to 'regular' recipes, adding whole wheat flour here, taking out butter there, but she was never willing to sacrifice flavor in the name of sanctimonious deprivation because she knew there were no 'bad' foods, just bad amounts.  She read and read and read about nutrition, the Mediterranean way of eating, and whatever current nutrition information she could get her hands on.  So, after years of cranking out a few losers and even more ("thank goodness" her family says) winners in the 'healthified' recipe department, said girl decided to share what she had learned over the years, and started a blog.  

OK, enough of this third person stuff!

I feel very strongly that food needs to be, first, delicious, and then secondly healthy (or healthier), in that order.  It is all about the balance, don't you think?  If we eat things only because they are good for us, and if friends and family run the other way when you smilingly offer up a plate of something, what's the point, really?  Hence, an uncomplicated yet tasty cookie recipe to provide something simple yet special to tuck into your kids' lunches, as an afternoon snack with a cuppa', or just to share with friends, family or neighbors, for no reason at all, except to send some love their way via your hands, mixing bowl and cookie sheets.   And, this post is a way for me to share some of my thoughts on how I cook and bake in what I feel is a healthier fashion...what I like to call stealthy healthy.  You might have a different opinion or way of cooking healthy which you and your family like, which is great.  These are, however,  my thoughts on providing a balanced and joyful way of cooking (and eating) that have been tried and tested over the years.  Sweet and simple, just like this cookie. 

Banana Nut Muffins

I was never a big soap opera fan and never got caught up in any of the story lines or characters of the main shows of the time, but for some reason during my last year of high school (I'm not divulging how long ago that was) I started watching an episode here and there of The Bold and the Beautiful, and got hooked.  I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with a certain dark-haired, manly, though perfectly coifed, main character with a jaw line you could slice cheese on.  There was just something mesmerizing about the show for me, and I was hooked for a year of two (what did he see in her...or her...I mean really!).  

So, what do banana nut muffins and a soap opera have in common?  Well, for some reason while baking and subsequently admiring these lovelies, that show title came to mind, and it seemed fitting...these banana muffins are definitely bold and beautiful, slightly addictive, somewhat nutty, and a great way to wind down in the afternoon with a cup of tea or coffee.  Where the muffins and show part company however is on Good For You Street (muffins good, ongoing daytime soapie emotional drama bad).    The muffins are packed with full-on, one might even say bold banana and toasted walnut flavors, carried on a sweet, moist and slightly dense (but not heavy) cloud of whole wheat goodness, and are blessed with a mesmerizing spice aroma and exterior that are, simply, beautiful.  However, unlike some other stars out there, these lovelies get their good looks, eh hem, naturally.

The Best No-Knead Bread

OK, so that's a pretty bold title, but I think well-deserved.  Let me tell you why!  I've been making bread for a long time now, and was pretty intrigued when the now famous no-knead bread sensation raced around the Internet a few years ago.  I dove in head first thinking, Eureka, here is the answer to my inner-housegoddess prayers...a way to put homemade, fresh-from-the-oven loaves on my family's dinner table while still working a full-time job and without a laundress!  Less fussing, less mess.  Great!  Right?  Well, for me...not so much.  Was it just me, I wondered, or was there something just not quite right about this legendary loaf?  I found the texture, well, strange and slightly unnatural--almost foamy.  I just couldn't put my finger on it.  It was over-the-top salty as well (I think the first recipe that was circulating called for 3 teaspoons of salt!)  I was, frankly, disappointed.  The other problem--you actually had to plan ahead, like a whole day, like the day before you want to eat it.  I mean, hello, I'm a card carrying member of the 

OCFTWMWTTCRF            

(Organizationally Challenged Full-Time Working Moms Who Try To Cook Real Food)

and the likelihood of me planning ahead for the next day's meal was, well, pretty darn unlikely.  That started a whole recipe tweaking adventure that has been a few years in the making...hence, the well-earned recipe title.  If you too have been a little disappointed by the famous no-knead bread, and/or would like to put a delicious, warm and very fulfilling and healthy loaf on your table (without the texture and time commitment issues of said other loaf) with very little, and I do mean very little effort, read on!