this is the way the wind blows

Cucumbers in season

Because cucumbers are rampantly in season, and that growing season has been good for them, they are everywhere and they are cheap. For this omelet with leftover brown rice and fresh broccoli, cucumbers served as a crisp counterpoint to what could have been just another somewhat mushy and tasty healthy breakfast. Dieting has become a bad word, and healthy food yet another obsession of ours that various big Agri-Businesses can manipulate ("lite", low fat, low carb, or whatever they're trying to sell you based on your issues). 

So let me state this clearly, and for the record: I eat "clean", as it's called in training, because it helps my body perform it's best, but I do not deprive myself in some game of show that's about control. I veer far away from Eating Disorder land, and if you find yourself playing games with your food, you could be drifting close to those shores. It's easy to do, what with all the crazy mixed messages we get. Be beautiful (and thin), be healthy (but strong), be a hard worker (and be fun!!). A lesser mind could get confused with all that marketing swirling around. Maybe if we worked jobs we liked, expensive Disney-fied vacations wouldn't be the goal, and maybe if we ate reasonably, in tune with our body's messages, we wouldn't gorge on fast foods, then repent with a low carb facsimile of the same junk foods.

I eat because I am hungry and because I am, I actually look forward to my meals. I'm also an artist, so I can also cook whatever I want, with whatever food I have on hand, which makes it enjoyable, too. But that doesn't mean I don't stray from a strict training regime, like any other person. This past week I've been home sick and I didn't eat well for several days, so I am particularly ravenous, yet also cautious, with a funny tummy that's recovering. So if you see me around town grabbing a burger, that's because this American girl is not only hungry, she watches what she eats with love and care, which means I can eat what I'm currently having. It's simply a matter of effort through the keeping of a food diary and regular exercise, something that I suggest periodically: http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/. Why not try something new? Treat yourself with the care you deserve.

sidewalk squash blossoms

eat, drink, and be fed

gathering clouds advent a storm

half asleep and under control

my hometown, my heart

Summer in Prospect Park

one more day is a gift

threshold

the setting sun

BarkAid!

I want to do everything all the time. I want to squeeze the juice out of every day, because life is such a precious gift. I wanted to be published by age 30, win many awards, and be in business for myself at the same time I ran a household with dogs and kids while I helped to save the world. What? Was that a lot to do? Huh. This super hero over commits, and I always will. Having a large to-do list is one of the greatest pleasures about an active life, but friends, I do get tired and occasionally sick. Plus, there's just so much work to do! 

I wanted so much to attend BarkAid and get a haircut at the same time (women, the original "multitaskers"). Early yesterday I realized that I can't go. I'm pushing a really big project out the door and I can't afford to take a day off while the momentum is there. Nonetheless, I really support what they're doing. I hope everyone who joins in with this special event has a great time, while delivering a very important message to us about our furry friends. Domesticated animals must have our help, because they rely on us for their survival. Let's not let them down. Power to the puppy!

http://www.barkaid.org/

http://www.animalhavenshelter.org/site/PageServer 

http://lomantinithesalon.wordpress.com/2011/07/24/welcome/ 

seasonal red peppers

Peppers are in season, of many varieties and colors. These bright red ones looked so fresh and crisp, I couldn't resist. Look at that color! Naturally rich and vibrant, they form a palette worthy of any artist who seeks inspiration.

fried eggs in pepper rings

I see many different styles of egg cups making the food blog rounds, including vegetable ones. It's a great way to get another serving of fruit and/or vegetables into your morning breakfast. More ideas! My fridge was full of eggs and peppers....why not give it a go?

pepper egg ring with whole wheat bread

I used extra large sized eggs, which didn't quite fit within my pepper rings. The egg whites runneth over and under, but they still tasted glorious. By the time the eggs cook, the peppers have already softened and caramelized along their edges. Yesterday I saw a picture of baked eggs in avocado. Stay tuned.

Here I Am!

I'm here http://pinterest.com/mariedoucette/
here https://twitter.com/mariedoucette  
and here http://designrelated.com/MarieDoucette.

Come find me!

 cloudscape

cloud strata

sunrise and glory

My home studio

spirals, curves, and squares

it was a dark and stormy night...

a storm is coming!

Food: Summer Fare

Avocado, muenster, cucumber, and yogurt sandwich

Avocados are the type of produce we've grown accustomed to seeing in stores year-round, typically of the small, dark green and imported variety. I delighted to find an actual American avocado on the shelves last week. It's much larger than its' South American cousin. Instead of a dark green, it's a vibrant, bright green/yellow with lots of creamy pulp inside. I've had that same one since last week, and I'm still finding dishes for it.

My "Dagwood" creation

Given the propensity for hot humid days in the summertime, any meal that doesn't require the heat of a stove or an oven rules the day. This sandwich was the epitome of coolness: creamy avocado, muenster cheese, some cucumber slices with the peel left on for snap and crunch, and plain probiotic yogurt as a dressing, in lieu of a heavy mayonnaise. The flavors were clean, simple and cooling to the palate, a refreshment we strive for during the "dog days" of summer. Stay cool!

a garden grows where it can

a pitcher of light

With summer storms come blackouts that those of us in NYC are blessed to have infrequently, but they do happen. When I was growing up, candles and flashlights were always on hand for occasions like hurricanes and thunderstorms. They became breaks from the norm that I loved as a kid. How pretty a house full of candles looks! It was such fun carrying one around to the bathroom and then to bed, their wicks flickering like fireflies in the night.

I like candles around all the time for their light and scent. Part of my routine every morning while writing and posting is to light one. When I got some nicely scented candles on sale, I had to improvise a holder for the melting wax. Many years ago, I was gifted with a complete set of dishes, most of which I never use.  This little creamer became the picture perfect container for my little light to shine, with a hand hold for me to use while walking around, in case of sudden squalls like the fabulous Ghostbuster storm we had last night.
Weather the storm beautifully.

clouds bring rain

Easy like a Brooklyn morning

Robot Invasion

storm

Cucumber in season

Summertime is the the season for cool, easy dishes that don't use the stove or oven. The produce is bountiful, local, and fresh, making each meal simple to prepare. I downloaded a seasonal app that allows me to see what is available during the growing season in my region. Still, given variables like climate and weather, my stores may not have it on hand just yet, or the produce doesn't look up to stuff.

Soaking in salt water

For example, asparagus was in season beginning last month but my local grocer had Peru imported, a definite no-no. For one, other countries lack the federal standards that American produce undergoes before it hits the shelf. It's also a huge waste: there's the labor, trucking, and air shipping for it just to get to the US, then there's the unloading and shipping to get it to your grocery store! Think about how much jet fuel and gas that expends for something as easy to grow in your area as a vegetable. Not worth it. Your asparagus just traveled much farther than the average tourist to wind up in your stomach. It costs your wallet and the environment dearly.

Marinated overnight

I take care to note many things: whether or not the fruit or vegetable is in season, and where it comes from. I did a survey in my fridge of dairy products to check myself, and I did fairly well. My muenster cheese and yogurt is from New Jersey, my Romano is from Brooklyn, and my half and half is from Arizona, which bothered me because we have such great dairy farms here in the Northeast, but it was on sale. I'm not immune to high prices at the store either. I also take my time to asses freshness. A tomato should have a definite tomato smell. If you don't smell a scent off your produce, it's mass-produced and not local. I tap and lightly knock vegetables to see if they're fresh on the inside. I use my senses when I shop; I look, touch, and smell. It's not just a matter of buying in season either. I buy what passes the test, taking price into consideration, too. Local produce is not only better for the you and the environment, it's fresher and cheaper.

Lunch!

I may have a list and a game plan plus a budget for my week's shopping, but I change that all around if what I want isn't up to snuff. Cucumbers were not only in season and local, but they were at a great price of 3 for $2.00. That's a lot of healthy eating. Add in a sale for NJ probiotic yogurt and the ideas start while I shop. Back at home, I googled "yogurt" and "cucumber" to see what I'd get for recipes. I went for a Greek-style version of a cucumber salad that couldn't have been easier, plus I added some sliced white onion. Get out there and get yours! The shelves are bountiful in the summer.

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/cucumber_yogurt_salad/

sun and clouds

mama's painting

sheet + morning light

the garden encroaches

flowers  ·  fruit  ·  leaves