Month: June 2011

cold berry soup

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I have big news from our little urban “farm.”  Yesterday was our first official harvest.  I’ve been using a bit of thyme here and some chives there, but yesterday was different.  I filled a bowl. I picked my first hydrangea bouquet! I also got to see the cutest sheep on the side of the road between Stoddard and Peterborough, NH. Ever since my friends came over for a vegan feast, I’ve been craving the cold berry soup I made.  Guess what everyone in New England?  It is strawberry season!  Instead of buying the bland, too-perfect strawberries from the store, you can get the really red, ripe, juicy beauties from somewhere local. There couldn’t be a better time to try this recipe out. cold berry soup *I used “Fresh Berry Soup” from Moosewood Cookbook as a sortof basis for this vegan version. Ingredients 2 cups of orange juice 1 carton of So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer 1 container of So Delicious Coconut Milk Plain Yogurt 1 tbs agave nectar 2 tbs fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 …

a perfect father’s day weekend

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Happy Father’s Day to the best dad a gal could ask for!  He has passed to me–among many other things–a obsession for gardening, a desire to be surrounded by nature and solitude,  and a love for animals. dad with one of his other daughters: Amber Joy I spent this past beautiful weekend with my parents.  It was one of those times in your life that you stop right in the middle of what you are doing and think, “I’m having a really great time.”  It started with taking Friday off to spend the day with my mom in Keene doing really girly things like nails, lunch, and shopping.  When we returned home, we covered our skin and put mosquito nets over our heads to go for a walk.  They don’t just have extreme weather  and animals (yes — there have been bear and moose sightings in the short time they’ve lived there) in the mountains of New Hampshire, they have extreme bugs too.      What a beautiful walk!  The landscape is stunning.  There were ferns everywhere, cute …

cage free is the way to be

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“They will come running when they think you might have a treat, learn to eat out of your hand and some may even allow you to stroke them. If you talk to them, treat them well and handle them gently you’ll have faithful followers. However, for a truly bonded pet that will seek out your company, follow you around the yard and nestle in your lap for a nap you may want to hand-raise a baby…” Sounds like a cat or any other normal domestic pet doesn’t it?  Guess what? The excerpt above (from this article) is actually talking about chickens.  Yes, I wrote that right–chickens.  According to more sources than I could list here, chickens do have emotional capacity.  In this article from Psychology Today, hens showed signs of distress and fear when a mere puff of air was blown on them.  When this same activity was performed on their chicks, their heart rate went up and they became more vocal.  They are intelligent, empathetic, and according to my own father (who spent lots of time …