Ritual Reset.

Confession:  Sometimes on Sunday I am so excited for my day that I wake early, go downstairs to grab my New York Times, make a french press and get back to bed.  This day will forever be my favorite as it represents a day of recharge, relaxing and a reset for the week ahead.  Today, to accompany my reading for the ritual reset was La Columbe Single Origin Ethiopian Press (from DC's newest roaster), gluten-free Buckwheat Flax Pancakes (adorn with sour cherries + honey) and the haunting sounds of Lucinda Williams.

From the fridge... 

Buckwheat Flax Pancakes
1 cup buckwheat flour

1 cup almond milk

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon honey 

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cook in skillet for 2 minutes on each side over melted butter. Serve with sour cherries and honey while sipping really good (something like) local coffee. 

From the paper ... 

Does a More Equal Marriage Mean Less Sex?

Interesting article on gender roles, sex and it's effects on marriage.  

Also, another realization on why synthetic hormones are scary... "One study even suggested that when “a woman chooses her partner while she is on the pill and then comes off it to have a child, her hormone-driven preferences change, and she may find she is married to the wrong kind of man.”

From the speakers... 

It's no secret how much I love this woman and I am a creature of habit--- truth be told, she plays most Sundays.

Today, I cooked and read to her second album.  Apparently it took 8 years to complete... well worth the wait in my opinion.  "Her voice contains a heartache comparable to Emmylou Harris, but she has a darker side and a toughness that allows her to live inside the blues or rock with abandon. In addition to writing strong melodies, Williams is an amazing songwriter with a knack for writing a lyric that acknowledges the complicated nature of relationships while cutting right to the heart of the matter."  All time favorite track-- Blue.  

A Bag Full of Love

As a member of the Price family you learn to love food.  To share food.  To used food to show love.

Last weekend I visited my family.  And yes, 72 hours, 7 dishes and perhaps 7 gained pounds later I felt extremly loved.

I also headed home with a bag full black walnuts, hand shelled by my loving father.  Given with the loving look he only has when gifting me items from his garden, his trees or from the Cadbury chocolate factory, I know these black walnuts must be used wisely.  After the hours he spent hulling these tasty nuts I know that these nuts are more than an accessory to a dish.  These nuts are a symbol.  These nuts show his his love for me, his devotion to me and the fact that he know that I love them.   Ah, the pressure.  To keep in the Price tradition, I know they must be used in items I love, cooked when feeling loved and for items given to the people I... well, you get the picture.  For a week, I have pondered what I would create with this emotionally charged ingredient. 

Tonight, after a weekend spent in a zip code I love, doing things I love with people I love, (and a not-so loving, one hour trip to Whole Foods) I decided I was in the right frame of mind and with the right ingredients to begin the process.

Cranberry & Black Walnut Scones

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
3 tablespoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup packed dried sweetened cranberries
1/3 cup or so walnut pieces
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or using your fingers until butter pieces are no larger than a pea. Make a well in the center and add the egg and milk. Beat gently with a fork. Continue stirring, scraping down some of the dry ingredients from the sides as you stir. Add the walnuts and cranberries about halfway into mixing. Stir until all ingredients are incorporated.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pat dough into a ball and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Press down into a round, evenly flat wheel about 1 1/2 inches or so tall. Cut into eighths and sprinkle the wedge-shaped eighths with sugar. Place about an inch apart on a baking sheet and bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until just golden.
 
The above item was created while listening to music I love, of course.

On the play list:
In The Midnight (Live)- Langhorne Slim
Mornsong- The Be Good Tanyas
Unwritable Girl- Gregory Alan Isakov
That Moon Song- G.A.I.
By Your Side- The Everybody Fields
November Blue (Live)- Avett Brothers
Nobody's Fault- Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet
I Hear Them All (Live)- Old Crow Medicine Show
DogSong- The Be Good Tanyas
Welcome Home Song- Radical Face

A Typical Sunday Feeding the Soul and Stacey

I try to be spontaneous.  I hate it when people predict me.  I despise the concept of a box. But on Sundays, my friends,  Sundays I have always been as predictable as the paper delivered to my doorstep.  As square as the box my latest shoes arrived in.  The characters and recipe in a Sunday meal might be spontaneously chosen but the core ingredients are a foundation that I rarely stray from--- food, friends and fine reading. 

And for this Sunday's meal...
For the character I chose a G*.  A G who loves good food and words as much as I.  A G who showed up while I was working at my client's shop--- Hello Cupcake.  A G who is always up for a trek across town.  A G who saw a run down building and immediately imagined (as I) a loft and restaurant downstairs run by a S.  A G who told me today we should form a band called G and the M Ds, with a straight face and I am certain meant it. 

The food was brought to me in the form of lunch eaten at Bus Boys and Poets, on 5th and K.  I had an amazing Veggie Burger and Sweet Potato Fries.  Served with sprouts, avocado and vegannaise on a chickpea bun, this burger competed closely to the one that I had three weeks ago at another District favorite--- Open City.  As a fan of the BBand P 14th and V location, I  equally loved the new location near Union Station.  In a brand new building, the atmosphere was a little more modern than V but the decor was still eclectic.  A combination of coffee shop, bar and restaurant... throw in a little retail and it is the perfect combination of food, books and my favorite two types of beverages.  The crowd was diverse and the food was the same--- amazing.  The service was a little slow but hey, it was Mother's Day and I am learning to be more forgiving**. 

The words, well they sprinkled in all day... they were found in The Post, NY Times.  A Plethora of magazines on Food, Fashion and Wellness (or scripture as I call it) at the Church of Barnes and Noble.  They were also found in great conversation exploring life and love and pursuit of all things food.  And finally in the form of lyrics in new tunes from indie bands such as Horse Feathers and Local Natives. 

Add a very tasty Bloody Mary to the mix, four miles of walking  and all that reading... I was on my couch napping by 5 p.m.  Predictable or not, Sundays are a day of rest, rejuvenation and really, whatever makes you happy.

* Not to be confused with my two other G's.  One, though often there in spirit, words and lyrics is AWOL in physical sense on most of the seven days a week.  One is never around on a weekend and this one, well, this one is a predictable, reoccurring guest star on a weekly basis.

**On Saturday I was slightly less forgiving when I sat for 20 minutes at a restaurant I will not speak of on 17th without any service.  It is just like the kid's fable, Little Bunny FooFoo, "I'll give you three whole chances"  or in baseball terms, "Three strikes you are out."  Right now they are 1.75 chances/strikes out. 

Chaos&Christmas Mix, 2009

Finally, my friends, I have found my spirit!  Apparently it was covered in glitter, located right under my Warm Wishes Holiday Mix, circa 2006. 

While cleaning my apartment I found an old holiday mix CD.  As I listened and loved, I decided that it was time I quit my scroogey ways and start making my way down Christmas list.  Every year I try to make the holidays homemade, chaos style.   Friends and family get some sort of half purchased, half created gift most ALWAYS comprised of a mixed CD and cookies.  I am very predictable.   This is serious business as lots of thought goes into it into the right mix of ingredients and music.

It's too early to start on the cookies (Rach, I might use your nice oven when I dog sit) but I now have the makings of a Chaos&Christmas 2009 Mix.  The list needs some editing but here is what plays in the background as I make two fabulous soups in my apartment now filled with holiday spirit.  The melodies are comprised of familiar, new, upbeat and melancholy... just like 2009.

Chaos&Christmas 2009 Mix*

Jingle Bell Rock    The Ventures          

All I Want for Christmas    Matt Costa   

The Man With the Bag    Jane Monheit       

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow    Michael Bublé           

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer    Jack Johnson 

Pennies from Heaven    Louis Prima          

Merry Christmas Baby    Otis Redding          

No Christmas for Me    Zee Avi  

White Christmas    Sonya Kitchell            

Spotlight On Christmas    Rufus Wainwright 

Santa Baby    Eartha Kitt           

The Heartache Can Wait    Brandi Carlile        

2000 Miles (Live)    The Pretenders            

Baby, It’s Cold Outside    Dianne Reeves & Lou Rawls          

I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm    Billie Holiday         

Winter Song    Sara Bareilles &Ingrid Michaelson

Christmas Song    Dave Matthews &Tim Reynolds   

River    Herbie Hancock Feat. Corinne Bailey Rae

Last Christmas    Coldplay

*Not all were available on iTunes, so iMix is missing several tracks*

Happy Holidays! 

Detoxification and Dinner

Wouldn't that be a good song or book title?
I always think of life experience and occurrence as a song, book or sitcom title. So far I have 5 different series (all running 7 seasons), 19 bookcases full and a 53 Mega Hits!

This week is all about the emotional, nutritional and physical detox. Seriously. After all of the people and the drinks and the food I am spending this week balancing out... starting with dinner. I am proud to say that it is only Tuesday and I have cooked three separate, very nutritional dishes and have packed my lunch daily. Unfortunately as I sit here I am drinking a glass of my favorite TJ's Bordeaux and have made plans for two nights this week. One life item at a time--- guess a gal needs some toxins, right?

Two detoxifying dinners:
Wild Rice Salad
In my new cookbook, Clean Cooking, (again, Thanks Mom!) I learned that wild rice is a grass and not a grain. This makes it a GREAT protein source as well as packed with fiber. This salad can be hot or cold and it so yummy! Adapted from New York Times recipe with my imagination--- basically, it VAGUELY resembles their recipe :)

1 cup wild rice, rinsed
Salt to taste
1/3 cup lightly toasted broken walnut pieces
1 can chopped artichokes
1 can garbonzo beans
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Juice of a lemon
Head of brocolli steamed and chopped
1 small garlic clove, minced
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1. Bring the water and artichoke juice boil in a large saucepan, add salt to taste and the wild rice. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes, or until the rice is tender and splayed. Add brocolli and artichokes for last 5 minutes. Drain and toss in a large bowl with the remaining salad ingredients.

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili
Adapted from The Clueless Vegetarian

1 tbsp EVOO
2 medium onions, chopped
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp curry
1 cup vegetable broth
1/2 clove garlic
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 28-oz (796mL) cans diced tomatoes
2 19-oz (540mL) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp crumbled dried oregano

Heat the oil in your RED DUTCH OVEN:). Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring, over medium heat until the onions are soft - about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, curry and the cumin and cook for another minute or so. Add the vgetable broth and the cubed sweet potatoes, reduce the heat to low and cook, covered, until the potatoes are almost tender - about 10 minutes.

Add the tomatoes with all the juice from the can, the beans, salt, and oregano. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then let simmer until the potatoes are completely tender - about 20 minutes. Puree 1/2 and serve with a dollop of greek yogurt or sour cream.

Cooked listening to these new tunes (or old on new mixes)
Slow Down- Wallis Bird
The Great Salt Lake- Band of Horse
The Chain- Ingrid Michealson
Selfish Jean- Travis
Float On- Modest Mouse
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa- Vampire Weekend
Got To Have You- The Weepies
Back in Your Head- Teegan and Sara
Time to Pretend- MGMT
Mercury Falling- Sting
Throw it All Away- Brandi Carlise

Now, off to watch David D in last season's Californication... a great addition to Detoxification :)

xoxo- Detox Debbie

A Recipe for Fall

Perfect Fall Day
Ingredients 2 brown leather boots
1 pair skinny jeans
1 part wool/ 1 part cotton sweater
1 tablespoon crisp air
Dash of cinnamon

Mix first three ingredients with air. Take a walk, meet a friend, grab a latte and sprinkle dash of cinnamon on top!

Today was the first day of Fall for me. I know, I know, technically it was last Tuesday but I was still donning a cute summer dress and acting frivolous... Today--- well, today was a turning point. I pulled out my boots and sweater and I swear I saw an orange leaf fall.

Ahhh...there is something about this time of the year that is rejuvenating. Though you are adding clothes I can't help but believe that you are shedding the months and are given the chance for a start over. Today, to me the crisp air signifies change...

Tonight, in honor of this change and the air and the boots, I am cozy in my apartment listening to a new mix, testing a new recipe and getting excited for what this season has to offer.

In the pot...

Spicy Squash Soup
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Carrot, peeled and diced
1 Onion, diced
1 teaspoon chile powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon curry
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 lb. Winter Squash, peeled and diced
1/2 lb. potato, peeled and diced
3 cups of Water
1/4 cup greek yogurt
2 teaspoons of Worcestershire Sauce
Salt and Pepper

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add carrots and onion, cook until soft, about 10 minutes. Add chile powder, cumin, curry and red pepper flakes. Saute 5 minutes. Add squash, potato, yogurt and water. Simmer, covered about 30 minutes. When soft, puree with a emulsion blender. Add Worcestershire and salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with greek yogurt and chives. Enjoy!

On the iPod. . .

Fall Mix
Go Home- Amanda Jenssen
Try Not to Breathe (Live)- REM
Why Does it Always Rain on Me- Travis
We Will Become Silhouettes- Postal Service
Sort of- Ingrid Michealson
San Francisco- Brett Dennen
Don't Panic- Coldplay
High and Dry- Radiohead
Save it For Your Prayers- Duffy
Skinny Dipping Girl- Joe Purdy
Girlfriend- Wolfgang Amedeas Phoenix
Running to Stay Still (Live from Paris)- U2
The Story I Heard- Blind Pilot
World Spins Madly On- Weepies

Lycopene and Lyrics

I am fresh from a day of food shopping, library going and hanging out with my closest DC gal pal who shares my love of all foods whole. I am in the mood to re-create the wonderful soup* I sampled at the market with all my new local grown goods.

I cannot cook, or in this case blend, without good tunes. Tonight I not only offer my recipe but I offer my music mix. Sometimes the mood you bring to your cooking adds to the outcome (Hello, did you read Like Water for Chocolate?). My mood tonight is relaxed, happy and excited for the flavors my meal and week will bring me.

On tonight's menu:
Gazpacho Soup
Fresh and light and filled with lycopene, this cold soup is as much a summer vitamin concoction as a meal.

Ingredients:
7 large tomatoes
2 Cloves Garlic, peeled
1 Large Onion, Vidalia or another sweet variety
1 Large Cucumber
1 Yellow Bell Pepper, seeded and finely diced
1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
1/2 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
2 Tablespoons Fresh Cilantro
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/8 cup olive oil
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Preparation:
Add all ingredients other than olive oil to blender and pulse. Add oil slowly. Served chilled.

On tonight's music mix:
Can You Tell- Ra Ra Riot
Distorted Thoughts- Charlene Soraia
Fix You- Coldplay
Close Call- Rilo Kilay
Sex and ReRuns- Matt Duke
Brown Eyes- Andy Davis
Beautiful World- Colin Hay
No Time to Sleep- Tina Dico
I and Love and You- Avett Brothers
So Natural to Love- Toby Lightman

*Get ready... fall is coming and so is your favorite soup goddess... I cannot wait to make and share new recipes with you!