Making Muesli.

Actually, I made the muesli last night, I just really like alliteration. Muesli is a saviour. Basically, it is a soaked combination of grains, seeds, fruit, lemon juice and plain yogurt although Muesli can be made a number of ways. I started this muesli with a grated apple and added lemon juice, oatmeal flakes, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds and organic plain yogurt. You simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl, give it a thorough mixing and let it soak in the fridge overnight. Soaking grains, nuts and seeds improves their digestibility.

Kids love Muesli and you can tweak the muesli to your liking. Soaking liquids could be organic plain yogurt, organic whole milk, apple or other fruit juices or milk alternatives such as rice, nut or seed milks.

You needn't include grains your muesli could consist of mostly seeds or nuts if preferred and vice versa.

Any seasonal fruit may be used, apples, pears, berries or any dried fruits like raisins.

It is very handy to be able to pull out a hearty, ready made, portable and tasty breakfast especially when on the go. Try it for your next brunch, breakfast meeting or just as a change from your regular breakfast.

Our Eggs

Our Hens are still laying. We are expecting them to slow down any day now and take a little rest.

You can attempt to keep them laying by using a light however our girls are pretty good to us and we'll be good to them. I am going to attempt to pickle some eggs if I can make some extra time to. I think I would like pickled eggs although I have not yet tried them.  

As of now we are getting 7 consistent eggs a day from 8 Hens. We supply ourselves, partially supply my boyfriend's family and our dog Dio loves to helps us use any extra eggs up. Dio eats the eggs raw, shell and all as the shells are an excellent source of calcium for him.

Green Lentil Pate

Here is another dish I made for the Holidays, *Penny Ormsbee's Green Lentil Pate, which turns out the loveliest green colour imaginable. Perfect for a Holiday table or any time of year. I usually serve it with carrot sticks and pita triangles but it can be used a number of ways. I've used it as a spread for a wrap with some greens and sprouts, dipped everything into it from nachos to pepper slices. Unfortunately again I was running late and unable to snag a quick picture, the next time I make it I will have to post one.

Green Lentil Pate

2 cups cooked green lentils
1/3 cup very lightly roasted sunflower seeds
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil and 2 tbsp. tamari
1/4 cup roasted yams/sweet potato
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
1 tbsp chopped garlic
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp. freshly grated ginger
pinch of sea salt
splash of toasted sesame oil

Place ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.

*Penny Ormsbee is a Registered Holistic Nutrition Consultant  practicing at the Therapeutic Approach Health Centre in Halifax N.S. You can check out Penny's website right here at  http://www.pennyormsbee.ca.

These will be some of the very first flowers to welcome us into spring. Snow Crocus start to emerge even through piles of snow. These were in bloom at the very first of April last year.

Tulip Tarda

These were in bloom on May 5, 2010. I am not in any rush to get through winter, I love winter, however I am anxious to garden again. My indoor plants can barely stand the extra attention.

Christmas Cactus

Roasted Beet Salad.

I made this Roasted beet salad from the Mother Earth News website for the Holidays this year.

It turned out really well and I only tweaked it a little. I added extra beets, celery and shallots as I found it made a fair amount of extra dressing. It was much better the next day after the flavours had a chance to chill together.

Roasting beets promotes excellent flavour and chances are most people have not tried them. 

Here is the link: Beet Salad Recipe

Unfortunately I was in a rush and unable to snag a quick picture. The salad was a really lovely, very festive deep red colour.