Baking with Fruit & Veggies

Banana Carrot Cupcakes
I left out the yogurt - although baking with yogurt or sour cream is great to moisten the cake -  I used a whole very ripened banana - and with fruit and veggies in a recipe, tthe result is moist anyway.

• 1½ cup all purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 1 egg
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted
• ½ cup mashed banana/...one well ripened banana
  
• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt/ ...omit if you like
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 heaping cup shredded carrots

Oysters

One of my favorite foods is clams or oysters cold "on the half shell" with a spicy sauce and lots of lemon!

Recently, I got the moment to eat out - a rate event for us - we dined at The Horned Dorset Inn in Leonardsville, NY.  
The Horned Dorset Inn

I ate one dozen fresh oysters - I should have taken a photo beforehand - temptation got the better of me - the restaurant presents everything with such taste - on the plate and the palate!

"Oysters are a good source of essential minerals including phosphorus, calcium, potassium and zinc. High in  vitamin B-12 and protein. 
to learn more about Blue Point Oysters, visit:
www.blueislandoyster.com

Living Long & Healthy Lives

With all the struggles, trials, and tribulations we each go through in the span of our lives - here are some  clues to health and longevity - the following are excerpts from an article published by CNN.COM:


...he took up running to overcome his grief after the death of his wife and a son. He ran his first marathon at age 89. The key to life: "Laughter and happiness," he says. "That's your remedy for everything."

...Her advice for a long life? Avoid smoking, drinking and vege
tables. She was also an optimist: "Every year brings something new. I've always been content with what I have."

...worked out at daily a local track. Healthy most of her life, she said exercise and an optimistic attitude helped. 
 attributed his long life to light eating, not smoking and work in the sunshine. After his postal career, he worked on a farm. ..."I am always looking up towards the sky; that is how I am."

...She said she ate more than two pounds of chocolate a week and only quit smoking at age 120, not for health reasons, but because she could not see well enough to light her cigarettes. She credited her longevity to port wine, her sense of humor and a diet rich in olive oil. 

...The secret to her long life, she said, was being cheerful. "I've always been a happy person, a giggling person, a wide-mouthed person." She also kept fit -- dancing the electric slide until age 103.

...She kept in shape throughout much of her life. At 102, she said she did leg squats to keep healthy. 
He credited cold showers with his longevity.

Dr. Ronald D. Adelman, who works with many of these old-old people as the medical director of Cornell's Wright Center on Aging, said that the study is an important tool to understand a population that's often overlooked.

"When it comes to the elderly there are really three groups we look at," explained Adelman. "Those who are considered old, who are 65 to 74 years of age; the older, between ages 75 to 84; and the old-old, which are those people over the age of 85.

"But when you look at centenarians, that really is an expanding group, and the important thing is to get their advance directives, to make sure these people express how they want to be treated in their later years, so they can live a better quality of life and be more comfortable. Where do they want to live, how do they want to live and what's best for them?"

Eat nuts, live longer

Because of advances made in medical technology, and the fact many people entering their golden years are more health-conscious than ever before, Adelman says it's time society takes the elderly, including centenarians, seriously because this older age group will continue to grow and need care.

"To be honest, 65 is no longer old," noted Adelman. "Ten thousand Americans are turning 65 every day. There are 77 million baby boomers, who were born between 1946 and 1964. They are more educated, they have the best health literacy than prior generations, they exercise, they eat right and they are living longer, healthier lives.

"We need to be able to provide them the best care and services possible, as they age into their 80s, 90s and beyond."

Italian Lettuce

I am a big fan of crisp dark lettuce types - this one is called catalogna - I believe it is in the chicory family - as is dandelion and escarole.  Here is photo of the lettuce - called

This lettuce is called Radichetta Barba Dei Frati

Progress is being made on Field One - seeking lots of greens and lettuce for great summer salads!!!

Chia Seed Drink

I ordered chia seeds in bulk to save money on the expensive price per pound.  I lowered the price per pound from $10 to $6 on Amazon (back when they had free shipping.)

The parts I use is Black Cherry organic juice, Pelligrino water sparkling, chia seeds 2 tbls. Combine these altogether in a bottle and store in the refrigerator for drinks in the morning, anytime you need a refreshment.

The chia seeds are reported to be high in Omega 3s, potassium, fiber, and provide energy- recommended serving = 2 tablespoons per day.  The main vitamins are: A, B1 (Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), C (ascorbic acid), E, choline, and Folate (folic acid).     "Chia also contains vitamins B3, B5, B6, B15, B17, D, K, inositol and PABA.   The main Minerals are Boron, calcium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, silicon, sodium, strontium, sulfur, and zinc. It also has amylose and plenty of electrolytes. And they also contain 18 of the 22 amino acids, including all nine essential amino acids."
Read more at http://www.vegkitchen.com/nutrition/chia-seeds-frequently-asked-questions/#Jc292XAHokxeeE9A.99

Field Crop Update: May 20th

Planting
Cucumbers, Savoy Cabbage


Harvest
we harvested the following baby greens - very early - the dandelion have only blossomed now - the lilacs are just beginning to bloom!  I am not a fan of baby greens or lettuces - I like my greens hardy.  Tender greens are for pansies... But - it's been a long winter - I need an organic green fix.  My favorite way to eat cooked greens is with sauteed chickpeas/ garbanzo beans, olive oil, red chile or cheyanne pepper, and olives & garlic, if available.  I also scattered tumeric on top.

Field 1:

wild - dandelion
wild - spinach /lambsquarters
wild - garlic mustard
herb - cilantro
herb - mint
lettuce - arugula
lettuce - black seeded simpson
garlic greens
Dragon Mix - a mix of Asian greens such as mustards and kale

Notes:
Suffered some cucumber plant losses - frost 19th and 20th of May - hopefully the last.  Took a Risk - 80% survived the frost!

EASTER - FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Easter, in the Italian American Tradition, includes Lamb - young Sheep between 3-4 months old - as part of dinner.  Meat is roasted expertly by my Aunt.  However, as a vegetarian, I have not eaten lamb in over 25 years.  I remember when I ate meat - my Aunt cooked it really really well!  Everyone else in the family looks forward to it.  We all look forward to any meal by my Aunt - she is an excellent cook!

I wanted to do something really special for her - so I sought to acquire the lamb for this Easter.  Afterall, I live in dairy country, and raising animals for slaughter is common throughout the land.  The first two farmers offered lamb meat butchered and sold at farmers markets. slaughtered. packaged and frozen by USDA certified houses.   I placed an order - but later realized these animals were not the "lamb" stage my Aunt preferred for Easter.

Upon a referral from a friend, I procured a lamb under 4 months.

The farmers raised lamb for sale in Brooklyn, NY- nearly 200 - for just this holiday.  Sheep, like goats, are bred in the fall and birth in Jan or Feb.  They had 2 lambs unsold for not meeting the 40lb requirement.  A $100 price tag - the lamb was slaughtered ($30) and readied for Easter dinner.

I have many conflicts with slaughtering animals.  One is that they are living breathing animals - mammals - like us.  Nowadays, people cherish their dogs & cats.  These same people may fail to realize that cattle - sheep, goats, cows - are every bit as feeling and loving creatures.   Meat/ animal consumption in modern society is on a scale never before imagined!  People dine on meat for every meal without giving a thought to the creature on their plate.  Population growth is in the trillions.  The multiple of that by number of animals consumed - is trillions of animals each year.  

On our farm, we provide an ideal forever home for rescued hound dogs.  We rescued wild horses - 2 mustangs - and keep all our horses for their lifespan.  We would never think of trading or selling one of them as the herd becomes a family.  They call for each other when just one of them moves out of eyeshot.  We care for barn cats that have come from all over the countryside - goats - for dairy - but could not bring ourselves to kill the kids.  Cattle are required to give birth for the production of milk.  Now we have 22 goats - up from 5 originally.     

Dairy and egg industries have so much slaughter as part of production that few people realize what is involved.  Most hens are given one year of production before sent to slaughterhouses.  Most cows are given 4-5 years of milking and all of their offspring - male are killed - and females move into the production cycle.  With so much killing involved in seemingly live animal operations - the consumption of these foods feeds into the slaughter system.  

I have not eaten meat for  over 25 years.  The reason - I can't reconcile taking a life for food.  The choices outside of meat are too plentiful, and they include dairy & seafood.  I am not vegan.  But I care very much where and how my dairy, eggs and seafood are procured.  I tried dairy on the farm.  I consume too little for it to be worthwhile and feed all the animals.  The increase from 5 animals to 22 animals happened in the span of 2010-2013. Only three years of dairying and that is how many animals were produced!  Shocking even to me.  Multiply all the milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, sour cream,  cottage cheese, cream cheese, ice cream, and other dairy products seen on the shelves in every dairy case across the U.S. and you can only begin to imagine the number of animals slaughtered each year for that production to take place.

How about all the eggs and chicken pieces on the supermarket shelves? How many birds are slaughtered each year?

We have a great movement which calls producers out for the way animals are raised and held in production.  Are the cages big enough for them to turn around?  Are the animals grass fed - enjoying outdoor grazing the little time they are given on earth?  How are they slaughtered?  Is the commute to the slaughterhouse stressful?  Is the lineup for slaughter humane?  Part of the movement has to become lowering consumption of these animals.

Since I wanted to do something special for my Aunt.  My life philosophy had to be put on hold.  Knowing the animals to be slaughtered were out on grass, well cared for, and even well slaughtered, is very important and little consolation for the act of killing animals.

Our farrier said to me - " God does not care what you put in your mouth - all he cares about is what comes out" ie.  what are your words - are they hurtful or evil?

I am spiritual and believe his point about what we say being important.  The less hurtful we are in life the better.  But for that that includes the slaughter of animals - as far as I am concerned - it is hurtful. 

I see the pain and feeling in invertebrate, fish, and poultry or fowl, birds.  Mammals feel and love even more!

I've cared for animals my whole life - they really are all caring and feeling creatures.  They have family and friendly interactions - within the herd and with humans.  Having seen the internal organs of dead animals -  their organs - including the heart - looks and acts like ours.  I am happy with my food choices and I do not judge others for what they choose to consume.  I consider my procurement of the "Easter lamb"  both a loving/ and unloving act.