Cauliflower Soup

One of my favorite favorite favorite soups to make is cauliflower soup.  The flavor is light, so it's ideal before almost any meal, but the texture is so thick and creamy you would swear there's dairy in it (spoiler alert: there isn't). It's quick to whip up, absolutely loaded with vitamin C to help keep you from getting sick, AND has 16g of protein to keep you full.  This particular recipe is based on one of my favorite cookbooks "Essential Pepin," and you absolutely must give it a try if you're in the market for a guilt free soup recipe.

Cauliflower Soup
Serves 6
2 tbsp Canola Oil
2 C sliced onions
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tsp curry powder
2 C low salt chicken broth
2 C Water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 large or 2 small heads cauliflower, cored, separated into florets, and trimmed
2 tbsp unsalted butter

1) Add oil to a large saucepan, when it is hot saute the onions for 2-3 minutes
2) Sprinkle with flour and curry powder, then mix well
3) Stir in the chicken broth, water, salt, and pepper, mix well, then bring to a boil.
4) Add cauliflower, return to a boil, cover, reduce heat to very low, and boil gently for 30 mintues
5) Use a submersion blender (or pouring the soup into a food processor), puree with the butter
6) You should have 7 C of soup, if you have less, add enough water to bring it up to this level
7) Be sure soup is heated throughout, and then serve!

Green Mountain Girls Farm

Just a hop skip and a jump down the street from my parent’s house, is one of my absolute favorite places in Vermont – The Green Mountain Girls Farm. 

The “girls” are Mari and Laura.  In previous lives they worked in conservation and non profits, but since 2007 they have been running the most picturesque farm of all time. 

From the red farmhouse inn on the hill, to the colorful hand painted signs demarcating organic herbs, the whole farm seems as though it sprang to life out of a city girl’s country day dreams. 

Everything is organic and sustainably grown, and if you’re lucky, Mari will take you to visit the pigs wherever they may be snorting around that day.  

“Humane” doesn’t do justice to describe the way the girls raise their meat. As we walked down the hill, all of the pigs came running over to the fence to say hi and Mari introduced me to them one by one and by name.  It’s unusual for farmer’s to name animals that are destined for food because it forces them to become more attached, but it’s exemplary of how the entire farm is run.

The pigs are loved. The chickens aren’t just “free range” they’re “free to go wherever they want and fly around and do happy little chicken things in an area that’s probably bigger than your backyard.” 

Everything at the girls farm is done with care, and you can tell when you taste their food.  

The farm stand is routinely stocked with meats, goats milk, and a huge supply of seasonal produce, so be sure to stop by next time you’re in the area.

Green Mountain Girls Farm

923 Loop Road

Northfield, Vt

05663

Watermelon Salad

There’s just something about watermelon that is straight up fun.  Maybe it’s because you never feel like a grown up when you eat it.  If you give me a slice of watermelon, I'm 6 years old again. It is by far the best way to escape lame adult conversation that’s happening over post-dinner coffee (Sticky watermelon hands? Please do NOT bring those near my shirt!), and made for some fantastic contests with my sister Meg.  Our favorites were probably the official “Who can spit a watermelon seed the furthest” (always her), and the unofficial “Who can accidentally get the messiest while eating” (me by a landslide).  As a 25 year old, I’m supposed to care about things like “staying clean” and “not eating with my fingers,” so today I have a watermelon salad recipe that you can eat with a fork.  I know it sounds a little crazy to mix red onion, feta, and watermelon, but trust me, even with all those sophisticated flavor profiles your inner kindergartner will still be pleased.

…and if you eat it with your fingers I won’t tell Mom and Dad.

Watermelon Salad

1 Medium Watermelon, cubed or balled

1/2 Red onion, thinly sliced

2 sprigs of fresh mint leaves, chiffonade

1 C sliced black olives

Juice from 1 lime

3oz crumbled feta

2 tbsp olive oil

Ground black pepper to taste

1) Mix it all together and do a little dance because your salad is so yummy

My Best Friend's Wedding

(Left to Right: Morgan, Sarah, Tessa, Katie, and me!)

Last week, one of my very best friends in the whole world was the first of our little high school group to get married.  The forecast was originally thunderstorms but at the last minute the Vermont weather gods smiled, and the day became the most perfect 75 degrees with sunshine.  You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day or a more beautiful couple.  I love you so much, Tessa, and I am so so happy for you and Rene!

Tessa grew every single one of the gorgeous flowers in the wedding herself

The Great State of Vermont Will not Apologize for It's Cheese

Have you seen "Thank You for Smoking?"  If not, see it immediately.  This is *actually* how all Vermonters feel about our cheddar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcvVhD5X3f0

Growing up in a dairy state like Vermont, there are few phrases in the English language that make my hair curl the way "reduced fat cheddar" does.  Runners up would probably be "processed cheese food" and "frozen dessert" in place of ice cream.  So when I set out to satisfy my ridiculous macaroni and cheese craving in a more healthy way, the cheese was non-negotiable.  The noodles on the other hand, are really just a vehicle to transport cheese sauce to my mouth. I don't know about you, but I am not in the business of wasting empty calories on bland vehicles. Pinterest swore to me substituting spaghetti squash was a brilliant idea, and shockingly (seriously. this sounded like an awful idea), they were right! I also substituted greek yogurt for the heavier milk and butter I usually use, and ultimately cut the calories down to about 263 per serving!  During baking the squash creates some liquid, rather than absorbing the way pasta does, so the sauce ends up thinner than the classic bechamel, but all in all this was freaking DELICIOUS.  Guilt free mac and cheese, I will probably be eating you weekly.

Guilt Free Macaroni and Cheese
Makes 5 Servings

1 large Spaghetti Squash
1 tbsp butter
1/2 Vidalia Onion
2 cloves Garlic, minced
8 oz Sharp (Vermont!) Cheddar, grated
1/4 C Water
1/2 C Plain Low Fat Greek Yogurt
1 Pint Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half (optional)
1 Cup peas (optional)
1/4 tsp Dijon Mustard
1/4 C Bread Crumbs
1/4 C Grated Parmesan
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
Dash of Cayenne Pepper
Salt and Pepper to taste

1) Preheat oven to 425

2) Cut squash in half and scoop out seeds.  Place squash (hollow side down) in a microwave safe dish with about 1cm of water in the bottom.

3) Microwave until tender (mine took about 11 minutes for each half).  Be sure the squash is *really* tender, it won't cook much more after this point and no one wants it crunchy.

4) When squash is cooked, use a fork to scrape out the flesh out of the inside - it should come out in strings that look just like spaghetti

5) In a heavy bottom sauce pan, saute the onion and garlic in 1 tbsp butter over medium heat until onions are translucent.  Add Cheddar and 1/4 C water, stirring constantly until the cheese is melted.

6) Add the greek yogurt, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, and stir until incorporated.  Remove from heat. I have a weird dislike for onion chunks, and at this point I also used an immersion blender to make the sauce completely smooth.

7) Combine sauce with spaghetti squash (and tomatoes and peas if desired), transfer this to a large baking dish.  Combine bread crumbs with Parmesan cheese, and sprinkle all over the top of the pasta.

8) Bake for 30 minutes, or until topping becomes a golden brown, and serve!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcvVhD5X3f0


Per Serving: 263 Calories, 6g Protein, 2g Fat

Easy Guacamole

I have to tell you a story about the time I studied abroad in Mexico.  It was a hot September afternoon, and my friends and I decided to take a side trip to see the Aztec ruins.  We'd been touristing all day, and I was tired, sweaty, and in need of a break.  I told my friends to carry on without me, and sat down on a shady patch of grass to drink some water and relax.  A few minutes later, a fellow tourist came and sat next to me.  He was a handsome man in his mid 40s with salt and pepper hair and a mustache to put all the hipsters in Brooklyn to shame.

Want some sunscreen?  He offered me the bottle he was slathering on his nose.

No, thanks! I actually reapplied a few minutes ago.

Ah, good.  I just figured we gringo's have to stick together! He chuckled to himself.

The two of us sat and chatted in this shady patch of grass.  His name was Paul, and he was an actor back in the states. We talked about movies and cars and, eventually, we began to talk about food.  I learned that Paul, in addition to his other talents, was somewhat of a chef.

I make a lot of sauces, he said, my marinara is pretty famous, but I also really like making salsas, salad dressings, you know, stuff like that.
Oh ya? I'd love to try them sometime! I've been struggling to come up with a salsa recipe for a while.
Well that's the secret to great guacamole you know.  To make great guacamole you have to make great salsa.

And then, my friends, he gifted me with the most amazing guacamole recipe of all time.  The secret, is in the salsa.

-Recipe after the jump-

Strip Tease

Relax!  I’m keeping all my clothes on! ….maybe….

just kidding I am.

A while back I was gifted this little number (read: my roommate moved out and left it behind), and I absolutely love it except for one itty bitty detail.  It's black.

(We’ll address those safety goggles in a moment)

Now I have nothing against dark furniture, it's great for some people, but I am just not a black bedroom dresser kind of gal.  In addition to being black, the paint on this guy had a shiny finish that thwarted all of my attempts to paint over it.  If I wanted to keep the dresser, my only option was to refinish.

Like any good millenial, I trusted that the google gods could teach me how to refinish like a pro, and you know what I discovered?  There is not one decent "how-to" for this on the interwebs.  Not one. So I *gasp* went to the library, read some stuff, and now I'm here rectifying this awful internet wrong.

Hey! Google! This is how you refinish things!

It's definitely a project that will take some time, but it's weirdly meditative and the results are absolutely worth it.  So pick a piece of furniture you like (preferably in an awful color), grab some stripper, and cue that Genuwine.

Step one: Assemble everything you’re going to need.

• paint stripper
• turpentine
• a flat edge scraper (something like an old spatula or spreading tool)
• Paintbrush
• Empty paint can
• Old rags
• Sand paper
• Swiffer pads
• Your favorite paint
• rubber gloves (the heaviest duty you can find)
• Long sleeves and pants you don’t mind destroying
• Eye protection

Step two:  Remove hardware and move the dresser to a well ventilated area

Keep the hardware all together with screws etc. so nothing gets lost in this process (it’ll be a few days before you can put it back on)

Ideally you want to do this outside.  Stripping chemicals smell to HIGH HEAVEN and you don’t want to breathe those fumes for any longer than you have to.  If you care at all about the surface you’re stripping on, be sure to use protective covering on the ground….this gets MESSY

Conveniently for me, my porch already isn't in the most beautiful condition, so I felt confident I could get away with just a few pizza boxes underneath…you should probably use something bigger.

Step three: Put on your safety gear

These chemicals are Nasty (capital N) and you do not want their carcinogenic, smelly, and corrosive selves getting onto you.  The stripper will literally eat through paint and it will also literally eat through your jeans.  Cover up!!! AND all this protective equipment is a good second use for those chemistry goggles from college you never threw away!

Step four: Cue the Marvin Gaye and start stripping!!!

Lay the furniture piece horizontally with the first side you’re going to strip facing up.  Spread a thick layer of stripper on with the old paintbrush.   This is not the time to be stingy, put on as much stripper as you think is enough, and then add some more. It’s best to do this in an area less than 3′x3′ so the fumes stay at a minimum, but if you’re outside or wearing a charcoal filter mask you can get away with a little more surface area at a time.  Let the stripper sit on the furniture for at least 20 minutes.  Don’t touch it, don’t look at it, don’t think about it.  Go inside and have yourself a nice glass ‘o lemonade.  When you come back out, like magic, the paint should be blistering up

Use the scraper or old spatula to *gently* remove the paint.  It should slide off very easily.  If not, apply more stripper and wait longer.  The edges of the spatula can easily cause scratches to the softened wood, so be careful not to press too hard.

Collect the paint/stripper sludge in the empty paint can, then continue to the next section, repeating until the whole piece is stripped of paint.

Step five: Turpentine!

Most strippers leave behind a waxy residue you may not immediately notice that will stop the new paint from clinging to the wood.  To get rid of the residue, apply some turpentine to a clean old rag, and gently wipe down the freshly stripped piece.  The turpentine will also help to eliminate any small bits of paint left clinging to the wood.  Because you’re removing the waxy build up, switch the section of rag frequently so it is still effective.

Step six: Wait.

Put the piece in a well ventilated area, and allow it to dry COMPLETELY.  This will take at least 24 hours, although leaving it longer never hurt anyone.  Bare wood absorbs water like craaaaazy so be sure where ever you leave it is dry, and the piece won’t get, for example, rained on.

Step seven:  Dispose of the sludge

Fun fact: paint stripper sludge can spontaneously combust

Fo realz.  Set the paint can full of sludge in a *cool* well ventilated area and allow it to dry out completely.  Only once dry, put the lid on the paint can, and then call your local waste disposal to find out how to dispose of it properly (you can’t just throw it out with your regular trash).

Step eight: Sand

To get this beauty in tip top shape before painting, sand her down to get rid of any last remaining paint, and any ridges that may have been caused by your spatula scraping.   While you’re at it, go ahead and give her a name.  You two have spent a lot of time together, and now you’ve seen her naked.  It’s only fair.

Step nine: Wipe off the dust

Use a swiffer pad to gently wipe all the dust off the newly sanded piece so the paint can stick properly.  Do this a few times, you’ll be surprised how much comes off

Step 10:  Paint!!!

After all this work you’re finally ready to finish!  Apply your favorite paint all over, re-attach the hardware, and voila! A brand new dresser!!