Husk Tomatoes, Decorated Rocks, Niece Update, Local Vegan Soups

A friend/co-worker of mine brought in some Husk Tomatoes not too long ago and shared them with us.  They were pretty yummy!  Her father grew some of them this year!  Here's a stock photo of them.  They were almost like a berry (some people say they are like a Gooseberry) but they also had a hint of cantaloupe/cucumber likeness to them, too, on top of the sweet tomato, that is.

I've been having fun with the decorated rocks I have been telling you about lately.  I have been finding a lot of them as well as making some of my own.  Here are 5 that I decorated last week.  I've had some luck with Sharpies.  I took a few of them to a State Park over the weekend.  I forgot to take photos but will be blogging about it at some point.  It was a very nice fall weekend at a historic place that is for sure.  My parents and I took our Wildtree stuff and sold quiet a bit of it.  We were supposed to do the Busti Apple Festival this Sunday but I'm not sure if we have enough stock.  At the end of this year we will be ending our Wildtree run.  It's been a great 9 years but the company is making a lot of changes that aren't really what our area focuses on, unfortunately.

About a month ago my niece had her Christening.  My sisters' husband/family is Catholic.  My sister and I were raised in a Pentecostal Church (altho my parents were not Pentecostal - but that's a story for another day).  After we moved to PA my sister stopped going to church.  I continued and was even in IVCF while in college.  IV or IVCF is Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship.  It was open to everyone.

These days - I know what I believe and have strong beliefs but do not attend church regularly.  I will attend different churches for different reasons such as volunteering or to see a speaker or attend a celebration, occasion, etc.  I respect all other religions and feel my personal beliefs don't really match to any said place of worship.  I also think that it's a very personal choice - and eventho I appreciate hearing what other people believe - I don't want someone telling me what TO believe or telling me what I believe is wrong.


Plus with the way politics have been the last several years that has been a real tough one for me too.  It seems politics have entered the church and many churches are more political than about the fellowship and togetherness and equality.  I rather hang on to the values I grew up on in the church that I remember and take them on my journey from here on out.  To treat everyone equal, to be compassionate, help others when I can, and try and make the world a better place.

I'm sorry if that sounds like I'm against church - that couldn't be further from the truth - it's some of the people that confuse me - not the ideas and beliefs.  My thoughts and feelings on the subject are very complex and many don't understand them but I'm ok with that.  I feel it's what's on the INSIDE that counts.  My purpose is not to judge people - nor is it anyone's job to judge people - and I think that many have forgotten or disregarded that simple way of thinking.

Sorry for the rant here - my real purpose - was to post a photo of my sweet niece - but wanted to explain why she was in a dress 6 times the size of her.  Regardless - she is adorable and wonderful!

A while back I was telling you about a new place in town that was VERY vegan friendly.  It's called Total Evolution.  This week they started featuring soups.  3 of them - that they made themselves.  2 are vegan and the other one is meat and dairy free but contains honey.

I enjoyed both of them.  This first one is Butternut Squash and Rice and the other one below is Purple Potato and Leek.

This morning I had one of their Wild Cherry Cranberry Smoothies.  It was lovely.

They have a new and seasonal smoothie for the Halloween Season called the Frankie that I am going to have to try before too long.

I really need to get to a few local produce stands before the winter gets here.  I dread the winter months not only because of the snow and cold but because the produce is narrowed down to store bought which is usually drab and dreary.

And speaking of weather - I hope everyone is ok with all of the hurricanes and earthquakes that have been striking!  YIKES!  Please let me know in comments!  I want to hear from you!

I already have one more post on deck - hopefully I will be posting it tomorrow - it's something new-to-me that I have been eating that I am totally addicted to now.

I also have a few other grocery store finds I need to share with you so stay tuned!

Blondee Apples & Kabocha Squash

On Thursday I mentioned I purchased 2 new-to-me types of produce.  One being Orange Kabocha Squash and the other item was a Blondee Apple I actually got as a free sample at my local produce stand.  Of course I hit up Google for more info on both of these foods and here is some of what I found out.  Kabocha Squash is grown in Fall, Winter, and Spring and is a Winter Keeper meaning that it can last 4 to 5 months!  YAY!  They are said to be one of the sweetest types of squash!  I read they pair well with Broccoli, Raab, Radicchio, and Dandelions.  You can roast it for 30 minutes in the oven with little effort.  I like that!  And I really am drawn to this recipe that I found, too!

My last trip to my favorite local produce stand wasn't the first time I noticed them offering free samples of something.  This time I took them up on the offer!  They had small, yellow apples which were called Blondee Apples.  They are a lot like Gala Apples.  They were originally found growing among Galas and some people actually call them the "Yellow Gala".  I read that these apples are resistant to bruising...that's a PLUS!  And can be kept for several months in the refrigerator!  Eventho this is becoming popular in New York State - and I actually live in Pennsylvania - but right ON the state line - it doesn't shock me that I found them here now that I do know more about them.  BUT this apple was introduced in 2000 by a couple from Ohio.  It wasn't available to the market until 2012.  I'm writing this prior to actually TRYING the apple but I am looking forward to it.  I LOVE trying new types of produce!  What's the last thing you tried that was new-to-you?

More MidWeek Munchies!

Yesterday we brought back MidWeek Munchies so I thought I would do another post today about it.  If you would like to participate the current link-up is active THRU next Tuesday the 13th!  Read more about it HERE.  In this first photo you will see it's all produce!  I stopped at my favorite produce stand (Lindell's Hatch Patch) and grabbed a few things...Spring Mix/Greens, Celery, Red Bell Peppers, Spaghetti Squash, Kabocha Squash, and I even grabbed a FREE SAMPLE of one of their newest apple offerings...it's a Blondee Apple.  Kabocha Squash and Blondee Apples are new-to-me so more on that soon!

I then ran to Walmart and noticed these vegan options!  Amy's Kitchen Vegan Burrito (might be my dinner), Hummus (my lunch), Organic Carrots (my Lunch), 2 types of Fig Bars (I LOVE these and now they carry the VEGAN Seal!), Coconut Milk, and I couldn't pass up a new-to-me TRIO of non-dairy milk (Coconut, Almond, Chia).  I also bought a small cutting board and pairing knife for my car/office/Lunches-on-the-go!

Also part of my lunch today was 2 of the Red Peppers from the first photo!  YUM!

One thing I forgot to mention earlier this week is this new-to-me beverage my father gave me.  It's Alo Watermelon Peach and it tastes just like a smoothie!  YUM!  I've had a few of their other flavors before but I have to say this is by far my favorite!

Yes, I have been driving around a lot again and eating and munching on-the-go so you can see I'm in my Fiat while taking this photo!

Have you tried any of the Alo drinks yet?

Last night I had the hee-bee-gee-bees and need to make something in my blender to snack on.  I ended up making this...it's close to a Vanilla Pudding or some sort of Cake Batter Cashew Cream type thing.  It was pretty yummy!  I submitted the recipe to The Raw Food World NEWS Site and their Recipe Section so be on the look out over there.  It contains the following ingredients: Cashews, Almond Milk, Organic Vanilla Extract, Coconut Butter with Coconut Sugar, Agave Nectar and/or NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia, a pinch of sea salt.

After having a little bit of this pudding last night I spent most of the evening doing research and writing.  Cricket sat at my feet when I was at the computer.  She was so patient - which isn't usually her strong point.  So I laid with her for a while before falling asleep.  She seemed to really LOVE it.  Paco was a bit of a slug last night because I had to give him a pain pill for his knees/hips.  He was still running around but you could tell he was like a penguin on slick ice half the time.  Riley was lazing-out, too!

Remember there is still time to LINK UP on this week's MidWeek Munchies - CLICK HERE!

Vegan MoFo ~ Seasonal Produce

Guess how much I paid for this produce?  I bought 3 peppers are they are HUGE...2 mini eggplants, 2 smaller zucchinis, 2 large sweet banana peppers, and a pint of potatoes.  I only paid $6.75 total!  I bought them locally at one of my favorite produce stands...Lindell's Hatch Patch!

Today for Vegan MoFo we were challenged with using all seasonal produce in a dish.  Take a look at some of the dishes that I was able to create using seasonal produce.  I will note if there are any other ingredients that come from different produce stands that aren't pictured in the Hatch Patch haul!

First up...is Vegetable Curry!  Curries never seem to photograph very well but I will tell you that this was tasty.  I tried a sample of if when it was complete but I actually pre-made this for my dinner tonight.

In this dish is...1 C Green Beans (frozen from fresh obtained thru a friend), 1 Carrot (from previous Hatch Patch haul), 1/2 Zucchini (above), 1 Mini Eggplant (above), 1/2 T Wildtree Garlic Galore, 1 Frozen Ginger Cube (can use 1 T Fresh Ginger), 1 T Grapeseed Oil, 1 t Turmeric, 1 t Cumin, 1 t Curry, 3/4 C Coconut Milk, 1/2 t Black Himalayan Sea Salt (or to taste).

Last night for dinner I wanted to throw something together SUPER FAST and I literally did just that.

I pan fried the following...2 Potatoes (above), 1/2 Zucchini, 1 C Corn (Frozen from fresh given to me by my sister who got it at a local produce auction), Earth Balance & Grapeseed Oil combo for flavor and pan frying, and I topped it with the Pine Nut Parmesan I blogged about HERE.

This was TASTY!

Now for this last dish you are probably thinking 'there is no produce in that dish' and you would be mistaken...there IS!  Sure...this is a recipe for Vegan Mac & Cheese but it DOES have local produce in it to create it!  Here's what I did...

4 Small Potatoes (above)
1 Carrot (Mentioned above)
1 Small Onion (From Papa's Produce - another local stand)

*at this point I boiled the above until soft.  I then put 1 and 1/2 C of the boiling water into my Vitamix along with the softened produce above.  I also added 1/2 C Cashews, 1/2 T Wildtree Garlic Galore, 1 t Onion Powder, pinch or to taste of Black Himalayan Sea Salt, 2 T Nutritional Yeast.

I originally was sent this recipe by my husband on Facebook.  I tried it the way it was suggested but HAD to add some things because it was lacking flavorful.  Most notably the Nutritional Yeast and Garlic.  It certainly has potential.  I will be doing this again and probably a different way each time.  Yes...I should have used macaroni noodles but didn't have any...I used what I had on hand and that was spaghetti noodles.  I will say that I think by using the potato in this recipe that it certainly helps with the texture and starchiness of the dish.  I'm sure you will be seeing variations of this dish in the future from me.