Healthy Green Saute: A Recipe for Delicious Leafy Greens!

I happen to be a dark green leafy veggie person. It's always been that way. I prefer spinach to peas, kale to broccoli and I would much rather eat a salad then, say, lima beans (blech). Recently, a friend came to me for advice about cooking Kale. He wanted to incorporate it into his diet because it was healthy, but he'd been boiling it and it tasted bland.

I was so happy to share this recipe, it's what I do when I want to give my kale some pizazz. My secret ingredient... dandelion leaves.

Dandelion leaves are amazing! They cleanse the liver, and are jam packed with antioxidants, calcium and iron, but they're also very bitter. Now I personally, have no problem with their bitter astringent taste, but I can't get my husband or children to eat them unless I dilute the bitter taste by adding kale. It is such a complimentary blend. The kale comes alive with an almost nutty sweetness which I top off with some basil and dill for complexity of flavor and a splash of lemon for a healthy green saute, sure to please the masses.

Here's what you'll need:

Tuscan kale (approx 2 cups)

Dandelion leaves (approx 2 cups)

Fresh basil (a handful, approx 1/2 cup)

Fresh dill (a handful, approx 1/2 cup)

2 tablespoons of ghee

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

1/2 Fresh lemon

Here's what to do:

Place your ghee in your skillet and allow it to melt. Once melted, add your kale, dandelion, basil, dill and garlic. Saute on medium heat for five minutes. Once your greens are soft (but not wilted), glossy and dark green, turn off the heat and squeeze your lemon juice liberally over the greens. Toss, serve, and enjoy!

Easy Apple Bread

This weekend, I embarked on an extraordinary apple picking adventure.

There are literally apples everywhere!

Apples are being stored in the fruit bowl on my kitchen table. They’re being stored in my kid’s jack-o-lanterns. A bag spilled in the backseat of my car. I thought I got them all, but there are about a half dozen rolling around back there as well.

My three year old will be taking apple slices to school for snack for the next….well, however long it takes for me to use up all of those apples.

Luckily for me, there area lot of apple recipes out there.

As much as I love biting into a fresh crispy apple, I also love apple bread.

My version of apple bread is easy to make and is loaded with nutrients and has a low glycemic index as I use coconut palm sugar in lieu of granulated. Sweet, but not too sweet. Moist and light. This easy apple bread recipe is the answer to an abundance of apples.

Here's what you'll need:

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon chia

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon sea salt

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1 cup coconut palm sugar

1 cup light brown sugar

3 large eggs

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups diced apples (approx 4 apples)

1 cup pecans (whole or chopped to taste)

Here's what to do:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, combine your dry ingredients and set aside.

In a small mixing bowl, combine your wet ingredients and blend well. Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients along with your apples and pecans.

Thoroughly blend your batter together. his will take a lot of elbow grease since the batter will be very thick and crumbly.

Grease two baking loaves, or a baking loaf and a small cake tin (scroll down to see what I mean).

Cook for about 40 minutes, or until your bread his risen, golden and brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Enjoy as a simple sliced loaf.

Or, for a bit of variety, frost a batch with Nutella and enjoy as a cake.

Life is good!

Picking Apples at Fishkill Farms: A Memorable Autumn Afternoon!

Our tires crunched over leaves, stirring up small clouds as we navigated the narrow dirt road.

It was a beautiful sight to take in, apple trees, row upon row, for miles. It looked like they extended into the horizon becoming one with the Catskill Mountains, a mass of apple trees, tapering into mountains, ascending into the clouds.

When we selected our bags, the man said he thought only the golden delicious variety was left, it being so late in the season. To our surprise, the further we crept, we came across a group of plump rouged macouns. Grinning, from the thrill of discovery, mesh bags in hand, it was apple picking time!

Apple picking, has to be one of my favorite autumn activities. I love the hunt for the plumpest, juiciest apples. The satisfying feeling of filling your bag with a group of imperfect, plump, leafy apples. I live for the smell of the earth and the streams of golden light from the sun filtering through the trees.

This year, I grabbed the boys and scooped up my friend Fred (you know you’ve found a true friend if they’re childless and nocturnal, yet still agree to spend the afternoon in an apple orchard with you, your toddler and your infant).

Our orchard of choice was Fishkill Farms, about an hour north of the city.

It was a great choice. They had a bit of everything.

You could pick apples, pumpkins and even a selection of seasonal vegetables. I stuck with the apples, since my little one was going to the pumpkin patch with his preschool.

The country store smelled like apple cinnamon potpourri. Pies, tarts, jams, vinegars, ciders and pastries were on tantalizing display. I couldn’t resist taking home some of the freshly harvested vegetables and squash.

Outside, despite the chill, the atmosphere was festive. Picnic tables lined the green spaces as live music serenaded us from a makeshift pavilion stage. On one side, there was a glorious stand selling hot apple cider and perhaps the best old fashioned donuts I’ve ever tasted. At the far corner, near the parking lot, a full-fledged barbeque was underway. Clouds of hickory scented smoke danced and vanished into thin air, as platters of chicken, ribs, burgers, corn and hot dogs emerged in savory gluttonous glory.

Sampling a little bit of everything (why not?), we took our time, eating, listening to music and basking in the ephemeral mid-autumn in between.

Fishkill Farms we’ll be back! Thank you for the apples and awesome memories.

Fishkill Farms (9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533)

Short Fiction : Advice for Writers!

 

As a writer of short fiction, I’m used to being overlooked. Most every bit of advice seems to be geared specifically towards writers of novels or those working on a non-fiction piece. This is also true when it comes to publication advice. Every query letter or synopsis sample is geared towards writers of a singular novel or work of non-fiction. The general attitude seeming to be, that if you write short stories, well….good luck!

When you’re a short story writer, it seems at times, that everyone wants you to write a novel. Something they can wrap their heads around. Agents and publishers often say- “No, short stories!”

When other writers ask me what I’m working on and I say a collection of short stories I usually get a puzzled look, as in, why?

There’s nothing I can do. Short fiction is my calling. It’s my form. So I chug onwards. I read industry publications, attend workshops and do my best to format query letters and send synopsis. But I still had short story specific needs that weren’t being addressed until I was fortunate enough to attend the Writer’s Work conference in Manhattan last month.

The conference was small, which means I had the chance to ask questions and get feedback. I had the fortunate opportunity to pitch my manuscript to literary agent Shira Hoffman. Off the bat, she said, “I don’t represent short stories.” But what she did do, was give me some excellent advice on how to position a collection of short stories for higher success in the mainstream market. Thanks Shira!

Short story writer Aryn Kyle (author of The God of Animals) was the featured keynote. I had the opportunity to ask her to share some advice for writers of short fiction. Instead of rolling her eyes, or attempting to convince me to write a novel, she offered some very positive and affirming tips. Thanks Aryn!

Here’s what I learned:

• It is possible for a short story collection to be published as a break-out work.

• Short story collections do sell and do have an audience.

• Not every story is supposed to be a novel!

• Grounding a short story collection with a novella helps make the collection more marketable to mainstream agents and publishing houses.

• Submit, submit, submit, short stories to relevant collections, magazines, journals and anthologies.

And if you're in New York and are curious about what I'm working on, you can find me at the Capital One 360 Cafe (968 3rd ave, second floor) on Tuesday, November 4th from 6:15 to 7:45, where I'll be participating in a reading.

Ghee: The healthy way to eat butter!

I love butter. Butter just makes me happy. It tastes so good. Smells heavenly when warmed. When slathered over bread or a muffin or a biscuit it makes my heart melt.

But that’s not the only influence it’s having on my heart.

During my twenties, I told myself I was too young to worry about matters of the heart.

In my thirties, especially now that I’m a mother, I know better.

Don’t get me wrong; there is most definitely a place for butter. I use it when I bake (when a substitution with olive oil or coconut oil just doesn’t make sense). I’m just more cognizant of the damage it can potentially do to my precious ticker.

I do have butter cravings from time to time as a result of my attempts to scale back and when I do, I turn to trusty ghee, also known as clarified butter.

Clarified butter?

Ghee comes from unsalted butter that has been left to simmer for a long time to remove the milk solids and water. Ghee is pure butterfat that contains many healthful properties (it is even known to lower bad cholesterol).

Ghee is easy to make and has several healthy and healing properties. Ghee:

• Promotes heart health (healthy lipid) and reduces LDL cholesterol levels.
• Rich is vitamins A, D, E and K
• People with lactose and casein dairy sensitivities can typically tolerate ghee.
• Ghee promotes good digestion and encourages the growth of good bacteria in the intestinal track.
• Ghee has a high smoke point, which means you can use it in your baking as well as frying without worrying about it breaking down into potentially harmful free radicals.

There are so many uses for ghee. From time to time, I’ll splurge and splash some ghee over fresh steamed green beans, over wild rice or even slather it on a biscuit. I’ve infused herbs and spices into ghee for medicinal purposes. I’ve even made curative lip-gloss out of ghee (recipe to come in a later post).

Here’s how to make ghee:

Place your butter in a saucepan and simmer over low heat until the butter completely melts. Keep your eye on your melted butter. You want to see small bubbles. It will take about 25 minutes for the butter to separate completely.

You’ll notice a white froth on the surface (this is what you’ll be removing).

Using a spoon, gently scrape off the white frothy layer, until you’re left with a uniform yellow liquid.

Using a strainer and cheesecloth or coffee filter, strain the remaining liquid, to ensure that your ghee is pure.

Ghee can be stored in a mason jar. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated (keep away from light and water) and will last a very long time.

DIY Moisturizing Shampoo (Great for curly hair!)

IMG_1060.JPG

DIY Moisturizing Shampoo (Great for curly hair!)There is something so empowering about taking matters into your own hands and creating a product or outcome that you love.   I don’t know about you, but I’ve had the hardest time finding a shampoo suits me.

Shampoos are usually too drying for my frizz happy curly hair and I rarely enjoy the perfume smell or the way they feel (I love a good scalp tingle).

That was until I decided to make my own.

After trial after trial and (I’ll admit it) error after error, I found a recipe I love.

All natural and pleasingly free of sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrances and dyes, this shampoo is light, moisture rich and refreshes the scalp with an invigorating tingle.

In the mood to experiment?

Try this fantastically fabulous DIY Moisturizing Shampoo!

Here’s what you’ll need:

IMG_1059.JPG

½ cup coconut milk

½ cup castile soap base (liquid black soap works well too, but I prefer Dr. Bronner’s Unscented baby-mild)

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 tablespoon jojoba oil

½ teaspoon vitamin E oil

10 drops peppermint essential oil

20 drops tea tree essential oil

Here’s what to do:

In a plastic pump bottle, combine your ingredients and give the bottle a good swirl.

Place your bottle in your shower and enjoy the next time you wash your hair.

It is that simple. Just as nature intended!

For more DIY natural skin care ideas, check out my latest book Natural Beauty from the Outside In, where you’ll find 70 Ayurveda inspired hair and skin care recipes.

7 Things I Love About Rochester, NewYork!

Last week, I packed the kids and a whole lot of luggage into our car and headed upstate to my hometown of Rochester, New York to introduce our newest little addition to family and friends in the Western most regions of New York state (I made a trip to Buffalo as well). Although I don't think I would ever live there again, Rochester has a charm that draws me in every time I return. I am a proud native Rochestarian and a big fan of the city I no longer call home (sorry dad).

There are many things that I love when it comes to Rochester, but for the sake of this post, I'm going to focus on seven things that I look forward to, when I return westward, to Rochester, New York's Flower City.

1) Rochester is a place seeped in history and activism. From its inception, people gravitated to Rochester, New York to let their voices be heard. Historical greats like Frederick Douglass, Emma Goldman, Susan B. Anthony, and many others called Rochester home. The underground railroad was active here, the Quakers thrived here, the creative innovation of George Eastman developed here. Rochester, New York, is a history buff's dream. If you are an appreciator of history, you must visit: The Mount Hope Cemetery (where you'll find the tombstones of both Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony), the Susan B. Anthony House and the George Eastman House.

2) The shops at Village Gate! (274 Goodman St N, Rochester) Rochester is a great place to shop local. Village Gate is a collective of local shops, small businesses, unique restaurants and art galleries, owned and operated by local artists, craftsmen and entrepreneurs. My personal favorite shop  is Mood Makers Book Shop and Cafe (I gave my first reading here).

3) The Rochester Public Market (280 N. Union St., Rochester NY) Folks stream in from miles away to visit the Rochester Public Market, which boasts fresh produce, meats, a fish market, crafts and ethnic delicacies from over 300 vendors. The market is massive and can easily become an all day event. There are restrooms and restaurants for those in need of relief and a re-charge. I adore this place. The prices are always reasonable and the service is amazing ( Rochestarians are a friendly bunch). The market is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 52 weeks a year.

4) The National Museum of Play (1 Manhattan Square Dr, Rochester). I would go here even if I didn't have kids! This is hands down, my favorite children's museum- EVER! Not only is this a children's museum, but it is a museum dedicated to the art of play. Everything is designed to be touched in this highly interactive museum for all ages. Where do I even begin, perhaps with the old fashioned carousel, or the life sized Victorian dollhouse, or maybe the exhibit dedicated to all things trains and planes (complete with a train you can ride). There's a section dedicated to comic books and superheros, there's a complete arcade showcasing the evolution of video games (this is where a lot of the dads disappeared to and where teens go to play after school), there's a replica of Sesame Street (as in the entire street) complete with a life sized Big Bird. You can find a Bernstein Bears tree house replica, there's a life sized Wegmans supermarket where kids can scan and bag their own groceries, there's a children's garden and so much more. The museum is enormous. You can spend an entire morning and afternoon here and if you're nursing a baby, like I currently am, there are nursing rooms, with cozy rocking chairs, dim lighting, books, and activities to occupy toddlers while their younger siblings are being tended to. Oh, I forgot to mention the quirky 1950's style diner, where you can enjoy a classic lunch. This place is FUN!

5) Abbots Frozen Custard! So, if you read my blog with any sort of regularity, it is apparent that I have a bit of an ice cream obsession. I love the stuff. Wherever I go, I make it my business to see what the locals are doing with ice cream. Here in Rochester, magic has been happening for generations thanks to Abbots Frozen Custard! I'm talking the richest and creamiest custard, bursting with rich vanilla bean flavor (a simple vanilla is a great way to test the virtues of ice cream!) Abbots is a Rochester staple. In the summer time, people sit in the parking lot on their cars or at the communal picnic benches and connect with their neighbors over a creamy cup. My first memory of ice cream was an Abbots cherry milkshake. My mother used to treat me to them after my dance classes on Saturday afternoons. There are Abbots Frozen Custard shops all over Rochester. No visit to the city is complete without a taste.

6) Wegmans!!!!!! Okay, Sojourner, why is a grocery store on this list? Well let me explain. Wegmans is so much more than a grocery store, it's an experience, I tell you. Wegmans grocery stores originated right here in good old Rochester  and in my opinion, set the gold standard for the modern supermarket experience. If you're in town for a visit and you need anything, this is the place to go. Want food to bring back to your hotel, go to Wegmans. Interested in a delicious morning coffee and pastry (fabulous bakery), go to Wegmans. Want to grab a few things for a picnic lunch in the park, go to Wegmans. Want to meet locals and get a feel for what makes the community tick, go to Wegmans. I never knew how much Wegmans meant to me, until I moved to New York City and had to search far and wide for a good grocery shopping experience. Nobody curates food like Wegmans. Pair that with a phenomenal bakery, a thorough health food section and a seductively satisfying cafe, Wegmans will seep into your soul and move you in a way that no grocery store should.

Travel Bucket List

Brazil India Spain Ireland Cuba Dominican Republic Cameroon Morocco Paraguay...

What places are on your travel bucket list?

Perfect Your 60 Second Agent Pitch!

http://instagram.com/p/tLCt_gSbk_/?modal=trueRecently, I attended the Writers Work writing conference in Manhattan. It was here, at this intimate and unique conference in Times Square that I participated in  my first agent pitch.

I had 60 seconds to pitch my short story manuscript to literary agent Shira Hoffman.

Pitches were given in front of everyone at the conference so that we could all learn from each other. It was one of the longest minutes of my life. And while in the end, Shira thanked me and said that she didn't represent short story collections, I did walk away with a load of advice and wisdom.

Here's what I learned about 60 second agent pitches:

• Try to think of your pitch as a conversation with a friend. Think about what language you'd use if you were talking about your manuscript to a good friend or to your mother. Harness that same calm enthusiasm when pitching to an agent.
• Identify the specific genre of the piece you are pitching so the agent knows exactly what type of manuscript it is from the jump.
• Think of the body of a pitch as a tease. Give just enough information to build interest without giving away the ending.
• It's helpful to indicate the length of your project and whether or not you've completed it.
• Dress comfortably. The pitch is scary enough, you want to feel confident and at ease.
• When in doubt, think of your pitch as you would the back cover of a book.
• Talk about juicy emotional details. What do your characters have to gain or loose?
• If your manuscript is character driven, focus your pitch on your key main characters.
• If your manuscript is plot driven, focus your pitch on the inciting event and share a few juicy details without answering any questions.
• Remember, agents are people too. If you have the time, begin with a warm greeting. Eye contact is key.
• Closing your pitch with an intriguing question is very effective.

Ultimately, writing is a labor of passion and love. Attending conferences where you have the chance to network with other writers and pitch to agents and get feedback from other industry professionals will only help push your craft to the next level and better ensure your chances of success.

Thanks to Shira Hoffman's advice and the advice of others, I was able to re-work my pitch so that it's strong and ready.

Agent pitches are scary, but I'm ready to do it again!

Coming to Terms with Sesame Place

 

"So, what did you do this summer?"

"Well, I had a baby and a month later, we went on vacation to....er....Sesame Place."

"Oh..." (insert attempt at a polite smile).

I live in New York, and even though I'm in my thirties, none of my friends have children. In many ways, life has continued as it was before, but there are definitely moments when the two worlds collide.

I never thought I’d see the day when I’d trade in my carefree adventures abroad for weekend trips to kid themed amusement parks. But it has happened.

At least to an extent.

I will always be a globe trotter. I just, trot with a finicky entourage of the three and under demographic whose interests tend to keep my husband and I a little closer to home (for now…).

At first we did well. When my first son was born, our traveling lifestyle continued un-altered and strong as ever. We got him a passport and jetted off with our easygoing, compliant, sweet boy to Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Jamaica, on and on. Our little nugget has more passport stamps than many adults.

But then he turned two. Suddenly jetting off to Asia or Europe or to the grocery store down the street became a challenge. Then our second son was born, and it was clear we’d have to tweak and re-define the way we travel as a family.

Namely, trips needed to be as kid friendly and sanity preserving as possible.

So when our then two year old, launched an I want to spend my third birthday at Sesame Place campaign, we shrugged our shoulders, scratched our heads, got a little sweaty about the palms and said okay.

A quick two-hour drive from Brooklyn, Sesame Place, in lovely Bucks County, PA, was one of our summer vacation destinations.

I’m not a fan of amusement parks, but Sesame Place, I could handle.

Sesame Place it turns out is a fabulous place to turn three.

It was such a relief to be in a place that celebrated children. The rides were toddler friendly, the bathroom was toddler/baby/family friendly, snacks were easy to get, and the atmosphere was overwhelmingly happy and fun.

Then there was the BIG parade!

And it was so much fun! I mean, it was completely campy and corny, but just looking at the sheer excitement on Ohm's face as his favorite neon colored furry friends made their way down the street, made the entire trip worth it. The energy was infectious. Mark and I let ourselves go and cheered and waved with the rest of the under six crowd.

Sometimes, it's just not about you.

Sometimes, you have to accept that life brings changes.

This year, we did Sesame Place and not Rio, but I would have it no other way.

Mint and Ginger Arnold Palmer Iced Tea

Okay, it’s really hot. I mean summer hot. Almost hotter than it was during the actual summer.

I don’t get it. I spent the second half of August, eager to break out my Autumn wear and sip on a pumpkin spice latte, and I have, but now I find myself regressing a bit, because of the post Labor Day temperature increase.

It was 84 degrees today, that’s legitimate summer weather. So I made a legitimate summer drink. I whipped up a pitcher of refreshing mint and ginger Arnold Palmer Iced Tea.

It was so refreshing.

Here's what I did:

Into my teapot, I tossed four mint tea bags and 1 tablespoon of shaved ginger root. I filled that pot with water and let it boil.

Meanwhile, into my pitcher which holds about a liter, I squeezed the juice of five lemons. To make my simple syrup, I added a very full tablespoon of organic raw honey. The citrus helps to dissolve the honey. I just had to swirl my spoon around with vigor.

Once the contents of my teapot had cooled (I waited two hours), I removed my teabags and added my tea to my lemony simple syrup.

Before cooling in the refrigerator. I sliced a sixth lemon into thin rounds and set them free to bob and adorn my drink.

After another two hours in the refrigerator, my drink was ready.

There are Perks to Flying with Kids!

Recently, I had the smoothest, most serene travel experience of my post- 9/11 life. No, I didn't walk, ride my bike or take the train- I flew.

No, I didn't cram all of my belongings into a carry on bag so I wouldn't have to wait on line to check luggage.

No, I didn't leave my laptop or kids at home, so that my hands would be free and I wouldn't have to fumble and bumble at the security checkpoint.

Here's what happened.

After navigating our way out of the JFK long term parking lot (an adventure in an of itself), my husband and I, along with a really large rolling suitcase, three carry on bags, a three year old on the verge of either breaking down or breaking for it (depending on the moment) and a crying infant, strapped in a carrier, stumbled onto the Delta check-in line. Our arrival was neither pretty or graceful, but that is neither here nor there, because we arrived with two golden tickets- our lovely children.

Immediately, the Delta employees swooped in. Since we didn't have a free hand to actually use the self check-in kiosk designed for convenience, an employee quickly took care of it for us, double checking to make sure or lap child seat was also secure (this can be a pain). My husband was led to an agent, so that our bag could be checked quickly and here are some of the other perks we enjoyed that fateful morning:

• We were ushered through to the front of the security line. If you're traveling with kids, you get to go through the line designated for the handicapped and people traveling with special needs. It's usually located to the left of the really long and winding regular person's security line. When you've got kids, you're VIP baby!
• After checking our tickets and passports, the security officer, suggested that we may want to enjoy the specialty checkpoint for TSA prechecked individuals. There should have been a red carpet. That's what it felt like. We didn't have to remove a single item from our carry on bags. No shoes had to come off of our feet. Even the apple juice my little guy was sipping on, that I forgot to throw away, before going through security (because I figured he'd have plenty of time to finish it on that crazy line) went right on through without a pause. The entire security line, plus check-point took maybe five minutes total. We're actually signing up for the TSA precheck service since we tend to fly a lot and not always with the kids.
• When we arrived at our departure gate (literally fifteen minutes after stepping into the airport), we were informed by the agent that we'd be bumped up from regular Economy to Economy Comfort since you know, we had the kids and all. Suddenly, it didn't matter that the man sitting in front of me decided to recline his seat all the way back as I held my sleeping two month old on my lap. We had plenty of room, and we were among the first people to depart the plane (I hate being stuck in the back while people toggle their luggage out of the overhead bins).
• Upon departing the plane, since we were one of the first five people to exit, we bumped right into the pilot, who saw our three year old point at the cockpit and he invited us in for a cockpit tour. He got to press buttons and touch levers. The experience was priceless!

As for the actual flight, after the excitement of the adventure subsided, both little ones passed right out. Not a peep was heard and mommy got to read a novel!

Thanks JFK and Delta for a quick and painless flight.  There are definitely perks to flying with kiddos!