Life, Gluten Free

Squash season

Despite the uncharacteristically warm temperatures as of late, the squash is rolling in; as is my willingness and desire to purchase it and eat it.

In celebration of all the amazing organic squash varities that are available to us, I will be posting a few different recipes involving some of the more "rare" varities of squash (kabocha, red kuri, hubbard). And if for some reason you can't find those squash varities in your area, you can always subsitute for the more common ones like acorn and butternut (those are also quite good, we love butternut squash soup).

One of our favorites is kabocha, which is a very rich and filling squash. I highly recommend it, and my lazy favorite version of making it is very simple. Most of the time, I just wash the squash, pierce it a few times with a sharp knife (just a quick in and out motion to pierce a small hole) and then bake it at 400 for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the squash.

We will then slice the squash in half, remove the seeds and scoop out the flesh. We like to add some sea salt and sometimes a bit of coconut oil. The squash itself is so tasty, not much else needs to be done.

I do enjoy creating fun new recipes. But I also like the appeal of throwing some spaghetti and kabocha squash, along with a few potatoes, in the oven so we can concentrate on more important things like Sophie's current desire to learn how to use scissors like a pro.

Peach Coconut Porridge

I promise the next recipe that I post on my blog will not be porridge. But, we could barely help it. Last week we had quite a few days of chilly weather with rain. Who doesn't eat porridge when it's cold and rainy outside? right?

Now it's unseasonably warm and I'm wondering what the heck happened.

I don't want to talk about it.

All I can say is, it better start cooling off or I am going to get grumpy.

But I am happy that organic peaches are $1.49 a lb right now.

(that's the best price we've found around here so far this year, how about you? don't say you bought organic peaches for 99 cents a pound, because then I may just have to wallow).

Peach Coconut Porridge

no: gluten, grains, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts

Ingredients:

2 cups shredded coconut

1 banana and 1 peach blended with 1 cup coconut juice

1 peach, diced

1 cup water

Directions:

Blend one banana and one peach with one cup of cococnut juice, then pour into a sauce pan

Add remaining ingredients to sauce pan

Place on medium heat and bring to a light boil

Cover with lid (turn down if necessary, we want a light simmer but not a hard boil)

Stir ocassionaly, cook covered for 10 minutes

Remove from heat, leave the lid on and let it sit for another 5 to 10 minutes.

It's good. Too good. 

Banana Coconut Porridge

We got the memo. Fall is here and we're ready for it.

Porridge? check

Pumpkins? check

The fall craft bug? check!!

I do have a non-banana coconut porridge recipe, but I do think I prefer my new creation with the added banana. I like banana and I think it adds a nice flavor enhancement. Next time, I am thinking about blending one banana and one peach because we love peach and it just so happens to be peach-a-rama here with loads of yummy ones to choose from.

Banana Coconut Porridge

no: gluten, grains, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups shredded coconut

2 bananas blended with 1 cup coconut juice

1 tablespoon molasses

1 cup water

1/2 cup raisins

Directions:

Blend two bananas with one cup of cococnut juice, then pour into a sauce pan

Add remaining ingredients to sauce pan

Place on medium heat and bring to a light boil

Cover with lid (turn down if necessary, we want a light simmer but not a hard boil)

Stir ocassionaly, cook covered for 10 minutes

Remove from heat, leave the lid on and let it sit for another 5 to 10 minutes

Serve topped with fresh fruit (or eat by itself, my favorite way)

My daughter likes it with fresh apple pieces and a topping of pink sprinkles (that is, beet-dyed honey-coated shredded coconut sprinkles made by her dad).

Little Miss Muffet,

sat on a tuffet,

eating her curds and coconut..

along came a spider,

who sat down beside her,

and frightened miss muffet away!

What our garden grows

Pumpkins, kale, tomatoes, onions, potatoes - oh my!

What fun it has been to have a garden this year.

Next year we hope to rent two plots!

The pumpkins make me really happy. I love pumpkins, and I have a bit of an obsession with them.

Every Fall, our house is decorated (inside and out) with a lot of pumpkins. And this year, the pumpkins will be ones that grew in our own organic garden!

Growing a garden is also a great lesson for young kids. My daughter has become a good weed picker and we have seen more bugs than ever.

Ladybugs, crickets, grass hoppers, praying mantis and an array of bettles in different shapes, sizes and colors.

When I go into the garden with a spade, and dig a bed, I feel such an exhilaration and health that I discover that I have been defrauding myself all this time in letting others do for me what I should have done with my own hands. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

A rainy day

 

Today we celebrated the upcoming Autumn season by taking a walk in the chilly rain!

First, we ventured out to just put a letter in the mailbox. But on our way back, my daughter suggested that we get coats on and come back out.

My first reaction was what?? it's cold and wet, really wet!

but then I thought, why not?

so we went back in, shivering all the way.

Once we were reasonably outfitted, we went back out to brave the cruel winds (not really) and torrential downpour (bit exaggerated).

We sang songs, splashed in puddles and we were pretty drenched when we finally headed home.

And then, we came in for a warm bath and hot "cocoa" (read: warm coconut milk with honey and cinnamon).

What do you do on rainy days?

Rainbow Handprints

This was a fun art project for us, and I got the charming idea from Good + Happy (she did rainbow footprints).

Who doesn't love rainbows, right?

I squeezed different colors of paint into paintcups (each with their individual paintbrush), and then we had fun painting our hands. I tried to follow the basic rainbow color scheme, but Sophie decided to paint each finger to make a rainbow design. I like her idea too :)

Paint on hands? colorful? it's a kids dream come true!

 

We came out with a fun selection to send to family:

and keep for ourselves.. :)

 

Hope you have fun too!

 

(dip finger tips in paint for the raindrops!)