Cocoa Fudge

1/3 cup soy milk

3 tbls of butter

2.5 cups powdered sugar

6 tbls powdered cocoa

pinch of salt

and 1 tsp of vanilla

Step 1: Mix all the ingredients in a saucpan except the vanilla stirring constantly until it comes to a boil

Step 2: Turn down heat slightly while maintaining a simmer for 8-10 minutes or firm ball when droppe dinto water, stir occasionaly to make sure ingredients don't burn

Step 3: Turn off heat, Add in vanilla and give a quick stir

Step 4: Pour into lightly buttered baking dish and refrigerate to let set 45 mins to 1 hour atleast, cut into squares when firm enough

ENJOY!

The Big Plot

Here is my second garden project I am working on this summer along with my little garden in my backyard. This garden is a group project I am doing with other students. We planted a week ago today, the greenhouse feature from earlier is where we started our tomatoes, cucumber, zuchini and peppers indoors. We planted lettuce, radish, peppers, cucumber, zuchini, a bunch of different types of tomatoes, basil, carrots, peas, beans, dill, other mixed herbs, onions and a few others. I hope this is a plentiful season and am looking forward to makign new recipe creations with the harvested produce. We also have a raspberry bush and rubarb. I am super excited!

our pepper plants

radish's planted from seed less than one week ago, they harvest within 20-25 days of planting

lettuce that came up like a perannual which I didnt know could happen

tomatoes with marigolds for protection

the stakes your see on the right are where we are growing peas

zuchini

cucumbers with strings to eventually cling onto, mulch to keep in moisture and mounds to provide extra nutrients

the gang of zuchinis

other tomatoes grown in the greenhouse with marigolds between as well as basil planted that hasn't sprouted yet in between

we didn't all come over on the same ship, but we are all in the same boat- Bernard Baruch

Iris

from my backyard

cute butterfly on the old sink in the back corner of the yard

Put the garden in

Finally put the garden in my mini plot in our backyard. Feels good to know I'm that much closer to healthy food. Vegtable gardenign is so rewarding and makes you feel healthy as a person inside and out. I can't even describe how amazing it is and how good of a feeling one can get from growing your own food and making things from it's source. Looking forward to a great growing season and learning lots more.

Before weeding

After

Recruited a friend to help me put in the garden, sure is a tiny garden

after a good soaking

Borscht

Borscht just starting to cook

I thought I'd eb experimental and try cooking some borscht. I am trying to cook up some imaginative vegitarian recipes and try new things. I have never had borscht and it was very good. I would amke it again and it was even better second day!

Here is the final product, added some dill and sour creme

cookbooks

Went to the public library, got a library card and took out some cookbooks. I got one book called la dolce Vegan, Growing & Cooking Vegtables, The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook and the Ultimate Vegetarian Cookbook. I like cookbooks with pictures best. If you know of a great cookbook of any kind or have a favourite let me know. I have a trusty Betty Crocker cookbook my mom gave me complete with pictures that I use for inspiration all the time. Please let me in on your favourite books.

vegan spaghetti (Zooghetti)

Zuchini spaghetti

This is a simple meal that is totally healthy with no butter, flour, preservatives and even salt if you choose to omit it. I used zichini for the pasta replacement and choose to use chickpeas instead of meat as they were the beans I had on hand. Use your favourite fresh vegtables you have on hand, I used vidallia onion, garlic, red/green peppers, red pepper flakes for spice and added some edamme and plum tomatoes with juice for the sauce. Saute the onions and garlic with olive oil if you desire, then add other vagtables of your choice and canned or fresh tomatoes. Right before you are going to serve add your zuchini pasta to heat it up along with sauce. Do not over cook as you are simulating al dente pasta.

For the chickepea meatballs: Drain chickpeas from can or cook dried beans. Boil the chickpeas, no salt for a couple minutes to make sure they are soft enough to mush with a fork. Drain and transfer to a bowl where you will mash them, leave a few rough chunks for texture. Dice a small handfull of onions add to mixture add favourite Italian seasongs and red pepper flakes, pepper etc. mix around and form small meatball size balls. Cook in oven at 375 degrees and turn every five minutes to crisp outside. do not cook longer than 12-15 minutes as you don't want them to dry out.

Add chickpea meatballs to tossed pasta and serve. super healthy super good!

Chickpea meatballs

Zuchini pasta and sauce

Wholesome dinner

wants

1. more wooden spoons
2. cake decorating tips
3. old fashioned egg beater*
4. thin icing spreader
5. cupcake baking tin
6. wok*
7. bamboo steamer
8. good art paints/more canvas's
9. plants for the house
10. old fancy tea cups
11. springform cake pan

the list goes on. i need to record things so I'll remember

The egg beater is one of my top priorities right now, if anyone knows where to get a nice one please let me know

Happy Mother's Day

To my amazing mother
Who is far away
Know that I love you and
Hand picked a bouquet

Know that I am thankfull
For everything you do
Because I'm the luckiest daughter
To have a mother like you
<3

adult twist on a childish favourite

In the spirit of all things garden. I decided to make a chocolate dirt pie just like my mother did for me when I was a kid. The secret is making your own homemade graham cracker crust which couldn't be easier! All you need to do is heat your oven to 350 degrees, crush about 8 full size crackers add to a medium sized bowl, add 1/4 cup of white sugar and about a 1/3 melted butter. Simply mix these three things together well and press into a pie tray. Add to preheated oven and bake for about 8 minutes. Feel free to use less sugar or omit and add a couple tablespoons of honey for it's natural sweetness and decrease to 1/4 of butter, just needs enough to coat all pieces.

crush em' real good

make sure to press against the sides of the pie dish

step 2: make chocolate instant pudding mix according to package directions, allow 10 minutes to set in fridge, it will thicken. Give it a quick stir and add to cooled pie crust

step 3: add a layer of fresh berries, choose your favourite or whats on sale... like  I did

huge strawberries, or just tiny hands

cover with a layer of cookie crumbs. I suggest Oreo

the ol' familiar worms on the dirt pie

My boyfriend recently baught me a cake carring case, he knows me too well. Perfect since we are going to a dinner party at a freinds and bringing dessert. How clever.

This is a very easy almost no bake recipe that is perfect for those who want to make something fun, tasty and not too challenging. Hopefully you will all make this kid classic.

I hope I paint alot this summer, heres to the start

close up

To live is one of the rarest things in the world
Most people exist,
That is all
-Oscar Wilde