kitchen Archives - Page 25 of 29

Homemade Granola | Quinoa, Maple, Fig + Coconut

I’ve recently been making some modifications to my diet. My food choices are already mostly organic and overall quite healthy, but in order to speed some healing I’ve decided to go as anti-inflammatory as possible. As such, I’ve truly taken the plunge and cut out gluten, among other things, for a minimum of 8 weeks.

As a foodie, I don’t believe that a modified diet should be a prison sentence of bland, blah and blech. In fact, in choosing to eliminate some of the inflammatory foods from my diet, I also chose to take on the challenge of creating dishes that would fit the new plan and also TASTE GOOD. I don’t want this to feel like I’m being punished if the end goal is something good! I want the process to be rewarding as well.

So, after some experimentation in the kitchen, I offer you my first creation. Turns out this is my favourite granola EVER. So, so yummy. My first batch was gone within the first day with my family and friends devouring it right off the tray. My son has now requested I keep a steady supply on hand for his breakfasts, too. {Read: Healthy Mom “win.”}

QUINOA, MAPLE, FIG + COCONUT GRANOLA

The Ingredients:

350g Organic Quinoa Flakes
1 c. chopped, dried Mission figs
1 c. chopped dates
1 1/2 cups chopped raw walnuts
1 c. sunflower seeds
1 c. unsweetened, organic coconut
3 Tbsp sesame seeds
2 c. maple syrup
1/4 c. coconut oil
1 tsp good sea salt (I used Maldon)

The Method:

Preheat oven to 350º F. Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl, using your hands to make sure the figs and dates separate and distribute evenly throughout the mixture.

In a large saucepan, heat the maple syrup, coconut oil and salt until everything comes to a boil. Stir and reduce heat, simmering for about 5 minutes. Pour the maple syrup over the dry mixture slowly, integrating as you pour. Make sure to get right down to the bottom of the dry ingredients and turn everything well so it is all evenly coated with the maple mixture.

Prepare 2 large cookie sheets by lining them with parchment paper. Distribute the mixture evenly between the 2 cookie sheets and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Stir the golden edges into the middle of the granola mixture and then place back in the oven for another 5 minutes or more, until the entire mixture is a nice golden brown. Let cool and break up into clusters.

I love this with vanilla almond milk and fresh raspberries in the morning. One batch and you’ll be convinced that “good for you” can be truly delicious!

Enjoy!

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|August 15th, 2012|0 Comments

Roost Blog | Ode to the Peach

Image via Roost

Peaches are a matter of some debate in our household. I adore peaches that have been ripened until the last possible second on the vine, so luscious they bathe my chin in their golden juices as I bite into their sweet flesh. My darling husband, on the other hand, has a strange penchant for peaches that are crisp and firm and “crunch” with what can only be described as a “chomp.” I think he was dropped on his head as a baby.

Either way you slice it, the fragrant beauty of peaches is simply intoxicating when they are in season. From peach cobbler to fresh slices over vanilla ice cream, they are the stuff childhood summer desserts were made of. As if you needed any excuse to fall deeper in love, just feast your senses on this delicious video from Caitlin at Roost.

Ode To The Peach from Caitlin | Roost on Vimeo.

What is your favourite recipe featuring the splendid goodness of the peach?

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 31st, 2012|0 Comments

Beautiful Process, Beautiful Birthday Surprise

I have a confession to make. I have a very active imagination. I’m pretty much always creating things in my head – new designs, ideas, stories, songs and endless possibilities. This is both a blessing and a curse. Why a curse, you ask? Well, my very active imagination makes it very difficult for my loved ones to surprise me. I’m pretty quick to pick up on a thread of activity and put the pieces together. So it was both a shock and a delight to find myself surprised with an utterly tear-worthy and incredibly thoughtful birthday dinner this week thanks to four beautiful friends.

I was told {ahem} that we would be going to Summerlicious which I was quite looking forward to! I’m sure you’ve picked up by now that I am a foodie. Despite a crazy list of food allergies that can be rather restrictive, I love exploring new flavours and cooking methods at the hands of a great chef. I am also always nervous to do so at the fear of a “missed ingredient” that causes the old throat to swell, but I knew I had placed my trust in a most thoughtful friend’s hands who would probably be even more thorough than I in asking questions before making the reservation.

As it turns out, I was wrong. Not about the thoughtful part. Not about the thoroughness part. Just about the Summerlicious part.

I was picked up and greeted with a lovely bundle of fresh herbs {a love language of mine} and told to “just trust” her on where we were going for dinner. A delightfully winding drive through the country led us to this charming home where three other friends appeared like nymphs from the garden to a serious show of waterworks {I was a mess!}.

The evening was literally stuffed to bursting with incredibly thoughtful details. {I believe details are a love language, and these friends seriously loved on me with the beautiful details of this evening!} So many things were lovingly handmade: the birthday banner; the mason jar candle holders filled with tea lights and lavender; the gorgeous and lovingly prepared food full of my favourite flavours; the beautiful dessert made “allergy-free” and amazingly delicious {it was FIGGIN good}; the sweet and charmingly hand-stitched tags on our mugs of tea at the end of the meal. No detail was left untouched.

As if I had not cried enough at the surprise of it all, I was overwhelmed by toasts from these four lovely ladies. {Cue waterworks round two!} One toast was even delivered INSIDE a piece of toast. Too perfect.

At this point I’m pretty overwhelmed at the thoughtfulness and detailed love of my sweet friends. My tummy is full and my heart is bursting. I couldn’t imagine anything more overwhelming. Once again, I was wrong.

Remember my post about the Christie Antique Show? Perhaps not, but these four friends remembered. I had gone in search of an antique, pressed glass cake plate which I came to discover was actually from a collection called Fostoria American {circa 1915}. I had given myself a cautious budget of $30 only to discover yet again that my taste and my budget did not match.

Unbeknownst to me, my friends had read that post and began conspiring. With secret meetings in hidden coffee shop locations, they plotted a scheme that involved one of my friends’ sweet old grandmother driving to a country antiques store in Illinois to procure this treasure. Through family visits and with great care, this package made its way North and into the eagerly awaiting hands of my four fabulous friends. I had no idea what I would find when I was presented with this box.

And I was beyond words when I discovered what was inside. {Cue waterworks round three}

There’s something about being known that just can’t be replaced. That feeling that you have been heard, and that the smallest details of your thoughts and what inspires you have not gone overlooked. That is the real gift that I was given for my birthday this year. The gift of knowing I have people in my life who pay attention to the delicate details that are stitched together to make me who I am.

It’s not about a cake plate {though it is so lovely and I’m still utterly amazed!}. It’s about listening and knowing and secret plotting in coffee shops. It’s about hand-stitching “steep love” onto tea bags just because I’ll notice. It’s about the collaborative community it took to create such a lovely evening {complete with hand-drawn notes and concepts}. Overwhelming. Thoughtful. Beautiful. Detailed. Love.

It goes without saying that this is a birthday for the record books. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m just going to have to celebrate the anniversary of my 29th birthday from here on out {wink}. Can’t imagine anything that will top this one. Love you, ladies. Steeply.

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 27th, 2012|8 Comments