Support your Local Farms & Peanut Sauciness

Good morning! I hope your week is off to a great start!! I have been feeling great this week, lots of work outs and some yoga this morning ~ makes me a happy girl.


Every since using my spiralizer for the first time I have been obsessed.... seriously trying to think up recipes that will let me make some veggie noodles!! I made a Thai Peanut Sauce and drizzled it over zucchini "noodles", carrots and sugar snap peas. Double yum!!!!

For the Peanut Sauce:

1/4 Cup Peanut butter

1/4 Cup Water

2 T Soy Sauce

2 T lime juice

2 cloves of garlic - minced

2 T apple cider vinegar

Averie has a similar recipe but I didn't want any of the sugar from the maple syrup so I improvised.

Heat all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium low heat.

I kept stirring with a fork when it was warming. Once it is smooth, remove from heat and drizzle over any food you shall desire.

I ate these veggies raw, however I think this would be fantastic as a stirfry. Over rice, pasta... the options are endless!

Cara did a post today on Eating Local and she did a fantastic job explaining the benefits and I couldn't agree more! I moved further away from the city of Milwaukee in October to a more quieter suburban area called Wind Lake. We have 3 lakes within a 5 mile radius - Wind Lake, Lake Denoon and Waubasee Lake. I pass farms everyday and love the scenery. I have been wanting to stop here for awhile.

Farm Fresh Eggs for $2.75

I finally did stop and I am so happy that I did. The people that own this farm are so friendly. The have chickens, 1 goose, a baby lamb and a mother lamb.

The lambs are not locked up in there they have access to the green pasture in the backround.

They are free to roam, free to eat whatever they want and they all looked so happy :) It made me SO very happy to know I can stop here and pick up eggs when I want and I know where they came from. Local, organic, free range, cage free.... happy chickens. I don't eat eggs very often but I am going to be making them soon to try these ones out!

Small update on my seedlings:

The green beans have gotten huge!!

Broccoli is doing great - just about everything has sprouted...

It is hard to see but that is a pepper seed sprouting!

Summer Squash hasn't sprouted (on far left).

From left to right:

Summer Squash, Cucumber, Zucchini Squash

Here is my first post on my garden: Garden Virgin

I woke up today with a really scratchy, itchy throat... hoping extra kale and spinach in my smoothie is going to help get rid of it!

What I am wearing on Wednesday:

Tank Top: from Macy's

Dress Pants: Express

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Peep Toe

Blazer: H&M

Not pictured: bracelet from Lia Sophia

Question:

1. Have you ever purchased farm fresh eggs directly from the farm? Do you notice a difference in taste?

I think the yolks are so much MORE yellow. Lots of color, which is always a good thing :)

Enjoy your Wednesday!!

Nichole



Garden Virgin

Happy Friday world! Hope you are planning a fun or relaxing weekend ahead. I am very busy this weekend with a benefit for my girlfriend, Jojo. She is 4 months pregnant and just 2 months ago her fiance was struck and killed by a drunk driver. We are having this benefit tomorrow at a bar she bartends at Sheperd's.
All the proceeds are going to her and the baby. I have never planned a benefit like this and it definately does take some planning. A group of girls including myself collected donations for items to be raffled, are cooking food for the event and will be donating our time during the event. I am bringing raw vegetables and a ranch pasta salad tomorrow. Lots of pasta and veggies in my house right now :) Hopefully I make enough. If you live in the area and would like to attend that event please let me know and I would be happy to give you the details.

I made this delicious Quinoa Tomato Sauce with Mushrooms the other day when I was in the mood for a healthy italian inspired dish.

It first the first time I got to use my spiralizer!!!

It took my a minute to get a hang of it but once I did - it was kind of fun ;)

If you want to make this you will need:

1 C Quinoa

1 jar tomato/spaghetti sauce

1 T Garlic minced

1/2 onion minced

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 C water

1 T Italian Seasoning

1/2 C mushrooms

In medium saucepan place Quinoa, garlic and onion and toast for about 5 minutes or so. Add in the water,  spaghetti sauce, mushroom, italian seasoning, and salt and pepper bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer for about 20-25 minutes, until water and tomato sauce is absorbed by quinoa. 

Spiralize your raw veggie for raw veggie pasta!

Toss Quinoa mixture on top of your "noodles" and serve.

I sprinkled mine with nutritional yeast and a little bit of vegan butter. I always loved butter on my spaghetti when I was little and thought it was just as good in this!

What I have been reading...

Learned some interesting info about composting - which I just started as well :)

I thought these greenhouses looked easy to use..

I planted ALOT on Monday, May 9th. I know I am a little behind but hopefully my plants do well... 

Add water and the pellets expand! Interesting.

Here is my set up.. 3 greenhouses and another 4 trays of seedlings.

Day 1 (May 9th)

May 12th (broocoli and basil)

More broccoli and 1 spinach I spy...

May 13th

Grow Plants Grow!!!!!

Wish me luck :) I will need it!!!

Nichole