how to embed a video, plus a few embedded videos

i have recently learned

how to "embed" a video on my blog.

do you know how to do this?

i wasn't sure, so...

below, i embedded a video

that will teach you how to embed a video.

and here are a few more i thought you'd like...

 ♥

tomato sandwiches

you might think i left out

the bacon & the lettuce,

but this sandwich is

~ simple summer goodness ~

start here:

slice tomatoes, then salt & pepper...

toast the bread,

then spread with a little butter & mayo...

add tomatoes...

voila!  tomato sandwiches!

with a nod to indiana tomatoes

(especially those from the hinkle garden),

this our favorite summer sandwich.

♥

asian kale slaw

this is another family favorite recipe

that is from our amazing farmers.

i make this almost once a week.

mindblowing fact:

my kids will eat raw kale this way.

it is so delicious...

{please prepare to be wowed}

☼ asian kale slaw ☼

1. begin with any mix of finely chopped brassicas

brassicas include: cabbage, kale, collards, broccoli, cauliflower

{you could also mix in some lettuce}

2. make an asian dressing

i use the same ratio that i do for my vinaigrette:

2 parts canola oil, 1 part rice vinegar, 1 part tamari (or soy sauce)

...then i add a few drops of sesame oil...

{you could also add dry mustard, garlic, salt, pepper}

3. add some extras

we love sliced almonds & sesame seeds.

{other ideas: pine nuts, carrots, peas, edamame, radishes, scallions}

4. top with chicken or tofu (we do both).

~ yum ~

♥

where there's smoke...

earlier today, our skies turned eerily orange.

we all looked up and said, "WOW!"

the smoke was so thick that i made a mental list

of what i should bring if we had to evacuate.

{ kids, dogs, cat, DUCKS, computer, photos...
...everything? }

in truth, we are a safe distance from the fire

(about 4 miles).

we had thunder and lightning this morning.

the lightning started a wildfire
in our very dry foothills.

(these photos are from here )

these homes have been evacuated.

families will stay the night at eagle high school,

an effort organized by

our sheriff's department
and the american red cross.

the smoke has cleared somewhat,

but it's windy (not good), hot (92°),
and smells very smoky.

we can hear the air tankers and helicopters.

the helicopters are collecting water
from nearby ponds

and even a swimming pool.

fire crews are cutting fire lines on the ground

to keep the fire contained and save homes.

thank you fire crews

& sheriff's department

& red cross.

♥

post edit 07-29-10:
sadly, three homes
burned to the ground in yesterday's fire.
(a few new photos from here)

sage butter & fried sage leaves

okay.

this is good.

as in, crazy-good.

sure, i had tried flavored butters before.
but, nothing prepared me for...
sage butter
& fried sage leaves.
it's going to be your new favorite thing.

our obsession for this delicacy began last year,  
when our radical farmers gave us a bunch of sage
along with the recipe.

now, it's your turn...

start with sage.

clean & remove the leaves from the woody stems.

melt a stick of butter.

add the sage leaves...

and simmer until the butter is caramel-colored.

pour the melted butter into a bowl or jar

and strain out the sage leaves.

now, you have 2 amazing treats:

1. sage butter

2. fried sage leaves

the butter can be used in its melted state,

or you can refrigerate to harden.

here is what i made:

mashed potatoes with sage butter

and fried sage leaves.

the fried sage leaves SHATTER

and melt on your tongue.

we have tried to compare them to bacon
or some kind of candy,

but there is NOTHING like fried sage leaves.

and the sage butter is incredibly delicious
spread on a baguette.
{or mashed into potatoes}

you really must try.

♥

earthly delights - csa bounty week 9

~ here is our yummy share for this week ~

potatoes

kale

big green cabbage head

carrots

cucumber

onion

magic garlic

basil

sage*

*tune in tomorrow ~ i'll teach you how to make sage butter

oregano (a big bunch for drying)

raspberries

want to visit our csa farm?  it's here!

♥

recycled ~ reclaimed ~ refurbished

i love everything about this space.

this is one of 3 new starbucks in seattle.

{dawn, you must go check this out!}

behind a row of old movie theater seats,

they used the pages of a philosophy text book

as wallpaper.

this table is made from an old ship.

these chandeliers are made from rusted wire.

{i ♥ salvaged materials}

read more about this inspiring space here.

♥

nature burger

have you ever heard of

nature burger?

it is hippie food, for sure.

i discovered it when i was in high school

and i still make it today.

i buy it in bulk at the co-op.
{click here for a list of ingredients}

i mix 2 cups boiling water

with 2 cups of nature burger,

then let it rest & cool.

form into patties & cook in a little oil

until toasty on both sides.

i like to add some melty cheese.

vegetarian hippie goodness!

i like to have it on hand for a quick dinner,

but it is also great for backpacking.

♥

my dad's kiddie merit board

this is one of my very favorite things.

it belonged to my dad when he was a little boy.

it has hung in my kitchen for years.

were you quiet in the morning?

did you tease?

did you go to bed on time?

of course, i love the duck ~ he's so optimistic!

i do hope you enjoy a gold star week.

{a gold star weekend would be nice, too.}

♥

kohlrabi

are you wondering,

"what does she DO with all of those veggies?"

well, here's what i do with

kohlrabi...

remove the leaves and peel

(a fork helps to hold it)

slice thinly

and serve raw with a little salt & pepper

we eat it just like this

and sometimes alongside a bowl of hummus.

kohlrabi is a brassica.

brassicas include cabbage, broccoli, turnips.

raw kohlrabi is almost a crunchy as a carrot.

the taste is a little radish-like.

have you ever eaten sliced broccoli stem?

that's what kohlrabi reminds me of.

♥

first there is a hammock, then there is no hammock, then there is.

summertime without a hammock?

yeah, i don't think so.

but, late last summer

a meddlesome squirrel

◄CHOMPED►

 my lovely yucatan hammock.

yes, the very hammock that i brought back

from the yucatan more than 20 years ago.

{did i mention that i was there doing mission work?}

to have it cut out of our oak tree

by squirrel teeth

was wrong and undeserved.

the nerve.

but, today

{...finally...}

we have a new hammock.

happy days are here again.

♥

breakfast alfresco

honeydew & cantaloupe

homemade waffles & peachy maple syrup

these red plastic baskets & checkered liners

have been our summer standard for years.

i bought them long ago
at a restaurant supply store.
{a package of 1000 paper liners - we've used about half.}

they are great for camping.

you can serve almost everything in them.

{everything but soup.}

♥

earthly delights - csa bounty week 8

here is this week's share

from earthly delights:

beets

carrots

scallions

redbor kale

kohlrabi

magic garlic*

*{to make your dreams come true!}

basil

rainbow chard

potatoes

rosemary

cutting celery*
*{looks like parsley, tastes like celery}

here's a link to our csa farm

~earthly delights~

here's a link to find YOUR csa farm

~local harvest~

♥

{post edit - 07-20-10}
dianne, this is for you:

so far, with our share,

i have made pesto & potato salad.

yum!

no recipe for pesto:
just basil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, olive oil, s&p

for potato salad:
i loosely followed martha stewart's all-american potato salad recipe

♥

duck update

our ducklings

are quickly becoming

ducks.

at 3 weeks & 4 weeks old

they are getting their feathers

and beginning to ☼QUACK!☼

they still get tucked in each night

with their teddy bears

(who have now been through the wash
about 25 times)

♥

p.s. pip sends a special quack to five-year-old annie.