Tribute to Dad

I recently lost my father and had no idea how profound this loss would really turn out to be. It's really puts that expression "nothing lasts forever" into perspective. Although this was sad and stung like a million bees, he taught me that even in dying there is hope, light and beauty. He took bravery to heights higher than I have ever seen in anyone- even him. His process of dying brought connection within the family and the community that was magical to watch. But most importantly he reminded us all about the true meaning of love.

There is definitely more to this world than the everyday routine we get up and do each day. I look at everything in a different light now. I realize that the things I once thought were huge problems are but small challenges and that focusing on building relationships is far more important. I have been circling around and above my dreams for far too long, and it's time to return to bringing them to life. Thank you Dad for all you have given to me and the world-your photographs will live on and I thank you for reminding me how important being happy in this life really is.  XOXO

 photo via harrytarzian.com

Merry Christmas!

It's hard to believe another year has gone by.....there were many changes and exciting things in my world that kept me from keeping up with my blog. I am commited to writing more posts in the coming year and get caught up. Spoiler alert: a foodie trip to San Francisco is coming in January and I am super excited to get that post up!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!!

Gather Journal

I love the blog sf girl by bay and she never ceases to post the most interesting things about design, food, travel and fashion- I love how she scouts out the obscure and brings it all together with beautiful photos by photographers far and wide.

This post she did about gather journal made me want to run out and get a copy pronto....it's definitely going to become part of my library. I am always inspired by food photography and new recipes.

Summer Musings

I am in love with Kinfolk- the magazine, the videos, the blog. You name it. These are some talented folks and the best thing they do is remind us to celebrate the simple life- cherish the moments with food, family and friends. Ahhh, yes some of us just dream of that while others make it a way of life.

Enjoy this beautiful video they made in celebration of summer and this happy day of freedom!

Fashion and Food

Photograph by Hirsheimer & Hamilton / Style shot by The Sartorialist
Get the recipe: Wild Salmon Crudo

 I adore this blog called Miss Moss- she scours the globe for the coolest in fashion, art, food, design and much more.

Her matching up of food photos (along with the recipes) and fashions that mimic the food is so genius and fun!

You can find these "Food and Fashion Mash-ups" at Bon Appetit's blog or better yet, follow Miss Moss and you will be in for a treat!

 food photo by Jason Lowe / street style by The Sartorialist

Recipe: Watercress Soup

food photo by Ditte Isager/street style by Le 21eme Arrondissement

Recipe: Cherry-Almond Focaccia

*all photos via Miss Moss

Banana Oat Pancakes

Lately, I must admit I have been a huge fan of crepes- they are light and delicate and lend themselves to infinite possibilities when it comes to fillings.

However, there is something about pancakes that is comforting and nourishing and dare I say, even nostalgic. One of my earliest childhood food memories is of my Mom actually allowing us to have pancakes for dinner! It was indeed a highlight that all of us enjoyed. My Dad is still a great pancake maker and nobody can beat his pancakes especially when we have a huge crowd! Sadly, Dad's recipe is not GF so, I have devised one here that will get the test at the next family breakfast gathering.

Below is my gluten-free spin on this age old breakfast classic. Please feel free to tweak to your own interpretation as far as the spices and toppings go- I used both cinnamon and nutmeg but you might like to add vanilla or use blueberry compote as a topping. There is yogurt in the batter, but you might want to add a dollop on top. Whatever you do, I think you will really enjoy these!

Banana Oat Pancakes

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups oats ( I used Bob's Red Mill gluten-free)

1/2 buckwheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp sugar, honey or agave

1 cup yogurt ( I used goat milk yogurt)

1 cup milk ( almond, coconut, etc can be substituted)

2 eggs lightly beaten

dash of cinnamon

dash of nutmeg

sliced banana and a handful of toasted walnuts for topping

Maple or Agave syrup for finishing

Method

1. Place the rolled oats in a food processor and pulse until you get a shaggy flour. Mix oat flour with the rest of the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Combine and stir until incorporated.

2. Let batter sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This helps to get them to rise high and light.

3. Cook on a griddle until browned on both sides.

4. Serve with topped with bananas and walnuts and a drizzle of maple syrup or agave syrup.

Make your own Nutella

If any two ingredients were a match made in heaven it's chocolate and hazelnuts! Spread on some really great bread or rolled up in a crepe = sublime.

I love this stuff but in my quest to eat as few preservatives, over-refined nasty oils and ingredients that I can't pronounce, I have stayed away from the commercial brand of Nutella.

Here is what the label on Nutella says:

          • Over 50 Hazelnuts per 13 oz. Jar
          • Contains No Artificial Colors
          • Contains No Artificial Preservatives
 

ingredients: sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, cocoa, skim milk, reduced minerals whey (milk), lecithin as emulsifier (soy), vanillin: an artificial flavor.

Food manufacturers today think it' perfectly okay to put soy in everything (which BTW is not as great as it has been made out to be- I will riff on that subject on another post), and wow- it has no artificial colors or preservatives, but artificial flavor is okay?? C'mon! Only 50 hazelnuts? ....and notice that sugar and palm oil are the first ingredients. 

If you are a food label fanatic like me, you know that ingredients are listed in order of the most to the least- so if you want a mouthful of sugar and palm oil get this stuff and be done. You also need to be mindful of what type of palm oil is being used- here they don't specify but there's palm fruit oil (taken from the fruit) and palm kernel oil (taken from the seed which is super high in saturated fat- 80% to be exact as opposed to 50% in the palm fruit oil). Consuming this type of oil can lead to heart disease and a host of other health issues so always read your labels and try to find better oils like olive and canola. Not to mention the environmental impact that farming palm oil has created.

I stumbled upon this blog where I learned to make it from scratch and I agree- it's so easy and worth it. All I can say is yum! Get the full recipe here and enjoy!

 

photos via missmoss.co.za