Millstone Birthday Adventure

Cramboise Cider

As spring tries to burst it's beautiful head forth in Maryland, we've tried to take advantage of every warm moment. A few weeks ago we gathered back to Millstone for our annual pilgrimage on a 70 degree day. This winter we also went to Milkhouse Brewery. We have so many great options in this area for drinking adventures.

It was also Carla's birthday. The tour landed on the upper level of this room that has changed beautifully over the years. If you look back at this post, the beams were numbered to get put back together by Curt, the owner. There were couples who brought picnics of cheese and fruit, kids running around and a huge group of 20 in our tour. Gone are the days of one on one tours. After Martha Stewart boasted about Millstone the place became even more popular.

It's always a fun place to throw back a few and celebrate all things local and Maryland.

We tried at least eight samples. There are always new items to try, new flavor profiles and creative blends for mead and cider.

The Pomme Jacque brandy was so good we bought a bottle and toasted to Carla on the porch. My tasting notes had "funk" written a lot. Many were vegetal from hoppy hops.

Not a selfie.

SDM noticed this piano belly with the Stieff name. Wonder if it was made in Stone Hill? They were commonly known as the "poor man's Steinway." 

Charlie throwing shade. I'm off of social media but still obsessed with his cute face.

It was a gorgeous day and always is a great adventure driving through God's country in Monkton.

Happy Birthday Carla

Happy almost spring! They are calling for snow this weekend. Ah March, you sneaky beast.

Summer Vegetable Ragout

We have been the lucky recipients of some incredible produce this week from our Stone Hill neighbors. 

Ann and good neighbor Charlie (GNC) were heading out of town and gave us the items above; zucchini, eggplant and red peppers from their farmers market finds. They were heading out of town and were afraid they would go bad. Ann and I were literally talking about how to donate left over CSA's to the homeless while I was getting the mail and she asked if I could take these off of her hands. Yes ma'am. What a score!

Our other neighbors Guy and Pam gave us these little beauties from their gorgeous garden next door. Aren't we the luckiest ducks to have such sweet and generous neighbors? I had to make one of my all time favorite summer recipes from my beloved Martha Stewart as a toast to late summer. After college I received a book of the month club-type subscription from Martha.  This recipe is from the book, "What to have for dinner" and is listed here. The pages are all splattered, well loved and I've cooked nearly every recipe in the summer chapter.

I change the recipe up based on what vegetables we have on hand and started with onions, garlic, fennel, rosemary and olive oil.

Chop the eggplant in one inch cubes so it will cook evenly and not get soggy. E. is not a fan of eggplant so I luck out and get his. Does anyone else think of Steel Magnolias every time you cook with eggplant? "Would you call this color grape or aubergine?" Oh Clairee, how I love you.

Add the zucchini and peppers.

Zest an orange. I can practically smell this photo. 

The orange zest, good olive oil, rosemary and the balsamic vinegar are imperative to making this signature dish. 

Cut and seed the tomatoes. 

Don't over cook the tomatoes but throw them in at the last five minutes.

Add a 1/4 of a cup of Balsamic. Drinking red wine while cooking makes the food taste better. You should always clean up as you go along too. My counter needs help. Maybe it was the wine. :)

Since I'm now 95% gluten free I boiled up some Ancient Harvest Quinoa Pasta from Whole Foods. The pasta is really good. You have to cook it exactly the amount of time it says on the box. Works perfectly every time. 

This video cracks me up post detox. "Can you please move, you're right in front of the quinoa." Hilarious.

I added fennel fronds to finish and packed it up for my lunch in my glass container. Kasia taught us never to use plastic due to the toxins. We went to HMart and bought a bunch of square glass containers to help keep us detoxed and keep our fridge organized. HMart is an Asian market with great organic items in bulk and is amazing! 

This dish is a gift to the olfactory nerve. The orange zest truly wows the pants off this bad boy. Enjoy these last days of summer and the fruits of the harvest.

Thank you Ann, good neighbor Charlie, Guy and Pam for your generous gifts. They didn't last very long and were perfect in this celebratory summer dish.

Container Detox

While Tweeting about Kasia Kines and my 30 Day Whole Foods Detox the world shrank as it does on Twitter, and especially as it does in Smalltimore. @BriHoffman, Erica Penn's fiance suggested we follow each other on Twitter since she had completed Kasia's Detox. Erica was invaluable. Here are a few of her wise Tweets. Start reading from the bottom of the screen shot.

Erica was with me all 30 days and we created a hashtag for #kasiakines on Twitter because we love her that much. @Erp5005's most valuable Tweet was "Tupperware will soon be your best friend." She was absolutely correct. I had Tweets asking what detox I was doing at all hours of the night. I should have said, "It's called a Container Detox."

Luckily I'm king of a freak when it comes to food storage containers so I was well prepared. I started a great routine after the first stressful week of trying to figure out how I was going to change my whole way of thinking about food. I'm a foodie. I love sauces, foie gras, amuse bouches, cream, cheese, wine, gin not to mention sugar in all forms. But I've been having weight issues for years and my energy level was to the point of near depression. I had to change my habits or go see a therapist. I knew I wasn't depressed, but exhausted and turns out malnourished. Odd for someone overweight to be malnourished, but it all makes sense on the other side of the detox. Now each night I make a beautiful salad and a fresh vinaigrette. I use a tiny 3 oz glass ball jar (as seen below next to the Kim-Chi) and seal it tight. Spinach, sunflower seeds and organic strawberries from California is the perfect salad but also visually just beautiful.

At the beginning of the week the fridge is now crammed with Tupperware containers ready for lunches. Some of the weekly items are fresh beets, kale, leeks, mushrooms, Brazil Nuts, Miso, pears, lemons, apples, ginger, broccoli, cilantro, parsley, cut strawberries, curry soup, homemade hummus, hemp milk, quinoa, barley, and brown rice. The beer has been there for weeks and the milk now spoils quickly since I'm not drinking it as well. 

I'm now a Bragg's Apple Cider convert, but the first week I had lots of items in the pantry already for my vinaigrette. 

Basic Vinaigrette 

3/4 Good Olive Oil

1/4 Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar, or lemon juice

dash of Celtic salt 

1 tablespoon of any one of the following: almond butter, raw honey, tahini, mustard

Use a Ball Jar to shake up and seal tight in the fridge. Will last for one week!

The key to a good container detox is GOOD containers. I had a curry soup explosion happen in the car the first week and it nearly derailed me. Good thing we sold that car. My dear and beloved Martha Stewart came to the rescue by way of her glass storage containers at Macy's. They are completely soup proof! 2.5 cups and a perfect lunch or dinner size. 

In the beginning it felt like every night was a little stressful trying to figure out what to eat for every meal. Now, 30 days into it I have a great routine and it is all about the storage containers!

Nightly routine:

Eat by 7:00 pm, small meal of protein and vegetables

Cook Eric piece of chicken or fish with vegetable and starch for his dinner.

Make my salad for lunch in a small container.

Make salad dressing in a 3 oz. ball jar for lunch.

Take piece of chicken from E's dinner preparation, barley (rice or quinoa) and green vegetable for my lunch entree and pack in another small container for lunch.

Heat (4) cups of water, (1) cup of steel cut oats on the stove until it boiled. Remove from heat. Cover overnight.

Load the dishwasher. Clean sink.

Go to be before 9:30 pm

Morning routine:

I've started waking up at 5:45 am every morning just with the sun and birds. It is now easy for me to get up in the morning and have a relaxing start to the day.

Heat water in tea kettle.

Remove lid and heat oatmeal on stove, 10 minutes.

Take vitamins.

Get ready for work.

Tweet.

Eat oatmeal at the dining room table, sometimes with my sweet Charlie.

Pack lunch bag for work with salad, salad dressing, cloth napkins, "S" monogrammed fork and knives from my Sites Great Grandparents, entree, snack of almonds, hummus and carrots or apple.

Erica, thank you so much for your Tweet support during Kasia's detox program. I'm still on the plan and loving every minute of it. I'm also always on the look out for the best in Tupperware options. Kasia, looking forward to seeing you later today for your Tweetervention.