Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘vermont’

Farewell, Fall Foliage…

Posted in Environmental Consciousness, New Hampshire, Portland, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , on October 6, 2011 | 2 Comments »

♥

This summer we took our niece to the Science Center to learn about our climate.

We had so much fun while we were there, watching the mountain lions prowl and the black bears slumber, but I was really saddened to learn that within my lifetime, because of Global Warming, the New England that I have known my whole life will eventually turn into a climate more similar to that of North Carolina.

We read that the fall foliage that New England is famous for will start to decrease in its beauty year by year, and eventually  the leaf peepers will stop coming, too (some would say this is a mixed blessing). And the maple trees will never have cold enough weather to produce maple syrup, so we’ll have to live without that, too. The reality of the situation really hit me hard when I saw the display that they had constructed to illustrate the impact of Global Warming in our (literal) neck of the woods.

Anyway, I’m feeling a bit sad about it tonight because I’ll be heading home this weekend for the fair and I’m not sure if it’ll look the same as it always has to me. Yeah, yeah, I’m being a bit sappy here (pun intended), but I just hope all of those trees of mine still look like home. I talked to my mom the other day and she said that the leaves hadn’t really had much of a chance this year mostly because Hurricane Irene blew them all off, but it was a secret fear of mine that I may never see the trees as they used to be.

If every year it’s supposed to get worse and I don’t have this one last season to enjoy them, I’d just be really torn up about it.

Alas, it wasn’t my intention to be the Debbie Downer of your night, and I promise that I’m done. I guess I’m just hoping that everyone is doing their part to lessen the impact we’re having on our globe because no one person can do it alone, and we live in the house we all built.

I hope you’re all doing quite well and are looking forward to the weekend as much as I (really) am.

xx.

Read Full Post »

Tempeh Stirfry + Green beans

Posted in Good Eats, Locavore Resources, Our Local Summer 2011, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

This meal was made with three ingredients, all purchased from our local Farmer’s Market.

Here’s another yummy local meal that we’ve tried this year. We’re not as strict as we were last year, so this tempeh made with black beans fits the bill.

I stirfried the tempeh with chopped up green peppers, and steamed our green beans until they were nice + bright. We felt full, we felt healthy, we felt happy, and we helped to support the local economy.

Happy Friday night!

xx. Julia

Read Full Post »

You Will Not Be Sorry You Made This Tomato Soup

Posted in Good Eats, Locavore Resources, Our Local Summer 2011, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on July 29, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

♥

You-Will-Not-Be-Sorry-You-Made-This Tomato Soup

  • 2 large tomatoes
  • 3/4 cup canola oil
  • Sea salt to taste
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 1 small carrot, diced
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 1/4 cups veggie broth
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Cut the tomatoes into large chunks and spread onto a baking sheet.

Season with salt and drizzle with 1/4 cup of the canola oil then roast in the oven until caramelized (about 15 minutes).

While they bake, heat the remaining canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.

Add the celery, carrot, onion and garlic, cook until softened (about 10 minutes).

Add the roasted tomatoes, veggie broth, and butter. Simmer until vegetables are very tender (about 15 to 20 minutes).

Add basil. Puree in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

♥

This is my absolute most favourite local recipe ever (that I’ve had so far). I figured it out last year and it has stuck in my brain as the epitome of a rainy summer’s day dinner.

We’re having a friend over tonight and I can’t wait to share it with her.

Happy eating, everyone!

xx. Julia

Read Full Post »

Maine Locavore

Posted in Environmental Consciousness, Good Eats, Locavore Resources, Our local summer 2010, Our Local Summer 2011, Portland, Social Consciousness, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 25, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

We’re leaving to spend the night at Ryan’s parents’ tonight, but first I wanted to pass along a link!

MaineLocavore.org is a great website that shows what’s in season in my region, and the available places to get each thing (including restaraunts — you don’t even have to cook this stuff)! They also have fibers like wool and alpaca for crafty people :)

Looks like we’re not the only Maine Locavores

(though it certainly does feel like it sometimes…)

xx. Julia

P.s. Click the photo in the sidebar that says “Local Summer” to find out more about our food adventure!

(Click image for source!)

Read Full Post »

Faire Food For The Locavore

Posted in Good Eats, Locavore Resources, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , on July 15, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

In a moment of weakness, Ryan and I decided to make a fried snack — onion rings.

We had been lounging in the park and reading, when a familiar smell wafted our way. We live on the ocean, so seafood restaurants dominate the coastline. It was probably one of these that scent the smell of fried clams our way on a stiff wind.

On the walk home, we decided that we needed something fried. In an effort to remain local, we made our own onion rings. It was incredibly easy and quite satisfying. Much advised.

We couldn’t help but indulge in this greasy mess. We’re healthy most of the time…

♥

ONION RINGS:

1/2 an onion

1 egg

1/2 cup-ish of flour

1/3 cup of cooking oil

- In a saucepan, pour the oil and heat on medium heat.

- Slice the onion into rings.

- Crack the egg into a small bowl and scramble.

- Pour flour into a second small bowl.

- Coat an onion ring first in flour, then in egg, then drop into the oil. Do this in waves for all of the onions. Once the first group of onion rings has finished frying, transfer it to paper towels or a cloth to cool and replace it with more onion rings until all of your onion rings have been fried.

♥

Enjoy  your greasy treat!

xx. Julia

Read Full Post »

A Favourite Breakfast, An Easy Start

Posted in Good Eats, Locavore Resources, Our Local Summer 2011, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on July 14, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

On most mornings, I have an incredibly hard time starting my day. I’m one of those wake-up-at-the-last-minute-so-I-can-run-around-the-house-to-get-my-daily-exercise type of people. And thus, my breakfast is rushed.

It’s because of this that I have gained such a fond appreciation of cereals. They’re quick, they’re simple, they’re filling if you top them with fruit and maybe pair it with a yogurt or some such business.

Here’s our local version of it…

♥

HOMEMADE GRANOLA:

4 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (non-local — 80% rule)

1 teaspoon almond extract (non-local — 80% rule)

1/2 teaspoon salt

– Preheat oven to 325 degrees

– Mix the wet ingredients in a large bowl

– Pour in the salt and oats, then mix thoroughly using a rubber spatula

– Spread the mixture out on a shallow baking sheet

– Bake for 10 minutes

– Remove from oven and mix the granola around

– Bake for another 10 minutes

– Remove and let cool! It will get crunchier as it cools. Store in an airtight container and use within 2 weeks. Freeze for longer storage.

- Add dried fruit or nuts if you want! We added dehydrated strawberries to ours :)

♥

Hope this helps ease your way into the day!

xx. Julia

Read Full Post »

Maple Syrup Cookies

Posted in Good Eats, Locavore Resources, Our Local Summer 2011, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on July 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Who says you can’t have sweets when you’re living on a locavore diet? Not this girl!

♥

MAPLE SYRUP COOKIES:

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups organic all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, combine butter and brown sugar.

3. Add the egg, maple syrup, and vanilla. Sift together the baking soda, salt, and flour. Add gradually until well combined.

4. Use a spoon to form 2-inch balls. Roll in sugar (we didn’t do this). Use a fork to press a cross hatch pattern into the cookies.

5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool on wire rack.

♥

So clearly this recipe does have a bit of sugar, vanilla extract, and baking soda, so it is not an entirely local dessert. However, compared to any other cookie recipe that I’ve stumbled upon, this is remarkably close to home. Those were my only three exceptions and they accounted for much less than 20% of the whole recipe.

Our rule is that our diet has to be 80% local. Last year we did incredibly well — I would say maybe 95% New England grown foods. This year we’ve dipped quite a bit, but we’re still probably hovering right around the 80% line. If you’re not too strict, this is a great sweet-tooth satisfier!

Dig in!

xx. Julia

(Click photo for recipe source!)

Read Full Post »

Broccoli + Cheese Soup

Posted in Good Eats, Locavore Resources, Our Local Summer 2011, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on July 11, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

BROCCOLI + CHEESE SOUP:

  • A couple of glugs of olive oil
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 2 cloves of minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups Vegetable Stock
  • 1 ½ cups broccoli florets
  • 1 potato, cubed
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • Two chunks of butter (my measuring skills are so exact!)
  • Salt to taste
  1. Add the olive oil, garlic, and carrots to a large pot. Stir until carrots are tender (about 10 minutes).
  2. Add flour and mix. Add stock and whisk.
  3. Add the broccoli and potato.
  4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  5. Stir in milk. Once the soup has warmed up a little, add the cheese and butter.
  6. Let it all melt together for a couple of minutes while stirring occasionally, and you’re done!

Enjoy!

xx. Julia

Read Full Post »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 397 other followers