Ingredients:
2 large or 3 small leeks
1 t butter
2 T butter
8 medium red potatoes (about 3 lbs, or four cups sliced)
3/4 cup 2% milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 t garlic, minced
1 t thyme
1/4 t fresh cracked black pepper
3-4 dashes Tabasco
8 oz Gruyere divided use Read More
As tasty as macaroni and cheese!
Ingredients:
1 large organic head of cauliflower (or 2 small)
1 1/4 cup milk (2% or whole)
8 oz good quality aged cheddar cheese
3 T butter
3 scant T flour
1/2 t dried mustard such as Colman’s or Watkin’s
1/8 t nutmeg
black pepper to taste
1/2 cup breadcrumbs or Panko
Optional: a tiny touch of paprika Read More
Today I just don’t feel peaceful. Breathing feels so difficult – and I sure do not want to focus on any of it.
My first calming breath began ok. Then, irritation bubbled up, poking sharply at my precariously centered mind until it threatened to topple over.
In times like this, I use a breath that I learned from one of the many great books written by Dr. Andrew Weil. He calls his exercise the 4-7-8 breath (exercise number two on this page).
This breathing exercise is not just a “let things be” breath. It’s a regain control of a distinctly non-peaceful mind breath. It’s simple – and it works. Read More
Ingredients:
1 T olive oil
2 t garlic, minced
dash hot red pepper flakes
12 oz broccolini, rinse, dry, and trim the dry stem end a bit, but leave whole
1/4 cup water
Optional Garnish: 2 oz grated Parmesan Cheese, or to taste Read More
Ingredients:
2 T butter, unsalted
1/4 cup onion, very finely chopped
1 large clove garlic, finely minced
2 T flour
1/8 t ground white pepper
Pinch of salt, or more to taste
2 cups 2% milk
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar, shredded, measured while tightly packed
3 med-large (2 3/4 lbs) baking potatoes, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup sharp cheddar, shredded (yes, even more cheese!)
Paprika Read More
Ingredients:
1/2 cup onion, rough chopped
1/2 cup sweet red pepper, rough chopped
2 cups arugula, torn in half
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
pinch of salt (one twist from the grinder)
1/2 t turmeric
1/4 t fresh cracked black pepper Read More
my Great Niece Annabelle
My favorite and rather frightening story about mindless cookery involves me and a cup of tea. I filled the tea kettle with water, placed the old fashioned kettle on the stove, and turned the burner to high. Then I added a couple pinches of Monkey Picked Oolong to the strainer in my favorite mug and left the room for just a minute to check email. Ok, I guess it was more than just a minute later when I wondered “what on earth is that smell? And why do things sound so funky?”
The smell was my smoking tea kettle melting most dramatically onto the burner of my stove. The funky sound came courtesy of my noise cancelling hearing aids – which cancel out annoying things like the screeching of smoke detectors. An extended bit of mindlessness while I attended to mostly junk mail nearly led to disaster. Yes, mindful cooking does save lives. Read More
Ingredients:
1 large butternut squash, approximately 3-3 1/2 pounds
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
2 T butter, softened
White or black pepper to taste
1/2 cup cream
Paprika to taste Read More
Serves 6
Ingredients:
1 T olive oil
1 T butter
1 onion, chopped
Pinch of salt
3 garlic cloves
1 butternut squash, peeled, de-seeded, and cut into 1 inch cubes
A few twists of fresh cracked black pepper
1/3 cup walnuts
2 T parsley Read More
I am more patient with myself and others, letting go of harsh expectations. – Glenn Reiner, yoga teacher
Be patient with yourself while strolling along on your mindfulness journey. Understand that it is ok that the path is not straight and narrow.
It will bend, twist, double back, and contain a few roots to trip over. Along the way you will discover many side branches, all awaiting exploration. Read More
Mindful Palate 