Bar & Basil

Here are a few shots of the bar room in our house. I have added this simple matchstick shade and now I have to order a new light fixture.

This is what I am thinking - the small mirrored version. circalighting

And below left is the most ingenious thing I have seen in a while. My new obsession is the local market here (post on this later). This is how they sell their basil. For those of you who often wonder how to maintain your basil once you buy it - this is it! You could find a fancy clear one like the picture or re-purpose another container, like this ricotta one I had left over from making lasagna the other day.

Something for a Hot Day

This sweltering heat makes even someone with the biggest appetite (me) loose the desire to eat. I heard about freezing grapes when I was a lifequard one summer in high school. This has been a go-to snack for us lately. Just take grapes off the vine (or the "sticks" as we call them) and put them in a zip-lock and freeze. Teddy really loves these cold treats for his teeth, I cut his into smaller pieces so they aren't choking hazards.

Smoothie 101

This is the best way to kick off the day. While living in SF, we got very into making smoothies and I registered for this Waring Anniversary blender for our wedding. I am back in the habit, and making a smoothie has become a morning ritual for me. Ideally, I like to start off the day with a smoothie, but lately my coffee has been first and then I make a smoothie for a mid-morning snack. The kids love them too. I water it down a little for Teddy and put it in a sippy cup without the rubber blocker. For Athena I put it in a special little glass cup and cut a straw to fit in it so she can enjoy slurping it up! Here is what you need for a great smoothie...

My usual smoothie recipe makes enough for two tall glasses.

I *always* start off by putting the following in the bottom of the blender

-1 banana

-1 scoop whey protein powder (vanilla or chocolate)

-some water at the bottom ~ 1/2 cup

-large squirt flax oil - large squirt omega oil if I have it

Then, pile on the frozen fruit. Yesterday I did raspberries, blueberries and peaches.

A sideways view from the top

Start blending...

Notice, the top wasn't really blending. So this is when I break out the rubber spatula (a must for good smoothie blending). Help out the fruit on the top a little - push it down, move it around... still thick - really frozen? add a little more water.

Now it is starting to blend - but notice, not quite there yet due to the inconsistency of the pull in the middle and the watery-ness near the edges.

Keep blending - don't stop! At this point my blender smells like it is overheating... I wait and wait until I get the perfect blend from the top, a flower shaped pull toward the bottom of the blender/ a consistently flowing smoothie... not too lumpy or thick. yummy
Other good combos:

-choc whey protein powder with strawberries

-mango blueberry

-peach with anything is good in my opinion

-add wheat germ or fage 0% yogurt for a different texture or flavor

-add any other fresh fruit like pear - but just think about the flavor combo first... pear with maybe 2 bananas might be nice. I don't advise adding melon which is really watery unless you add something to thicken it up.

Happy smoothie drinking!