Mandarin Juice

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.”
— Henry David Thoreau

Mandarin Orange Juice

Let's be healthy and Drink Juice.

 Let's be healthy and get up early.

 I have always wanted to be a morning person.  Thus far it hasn't happened.  I think my Grandpa who is 90 years old this month isn't even a morning person so I kind of wonder if there is hope.😉  

And just to clarify by morning person I am not referring to getting up at 7 am to an alarm clock and rolling out of bed because you have no choice, you have an appointment at 8 that you made because you thought you could force yourself into being a morning person.  

Rather I was making reference to those whom morning is a natural thing.  The alarm⏰ probably doesn't even need to go off they will wake up.

 I on the other hand would miss a flight, sleeping straight through until some sub conscious part of me dreamed of missing a flight.

I'm  talking about those who get up and head to the gym 🏃 for the 6 am class and arrive 15 minutes early.  My body barely moves at those moments.  I keep having dreams of swimming 🏊with the masters at 6 but alas it just doesn't happen....  

My go to however when people ask are you a morning or night person is to say: "neither. I'm 10-2. And you?" I usually get a chuckle taking the pressure off of being that early bird who catches the worm or the night owl who writes novels.

Magnuson Park Bird

Don't get me wrong, I do like it when I rise early.  The house is quiet, no one is stirring.  My cup of coffee calls and in the winter my fireplace🔥 is on (yeah it's electric).

But I also like to have that sweet taste of sunrise.🌄  I love to wake up with the birds outside and watch them rise in the air with me.

Magnuson Park Birds

 I love to go out and walk at the park when the sun is coming up and grab the first light for photos. 📷 These moments happen a little more in the PNW during the winter as the weather permits because the sun⛅️ takes a little longer to come up. I think it likes to sleep in as much as I do. 🌞  So if I wake up early by chance and have had my cup o' joe ☕️and went out on a jaunt I love coming back to some fresh squeezed juice. 🍊 Not just plain ol' orange juice although as a kid I lived on that before coffee (existed in my world).

 Something different, something with a little kick and that says:

"Good job. You are part of the morning crew. You made it."

That is what this juice is for.

 If it is already made upon your return home, even better.  If not it's quick and yummy straight out of the juicer.  No need to refrigerate it prior to drinking cause, after all, you just went out for a walk in the cold early in the morning, didn't you? 😉

Ingredients

  • 7-9 mandarins peeled

  • 1/4 inch peeled ginger

  • 1 lemon peeled

Instructions:

Step 1

Place mandarins then ginger then lemon into juicer.  

Drink up!

Tips:

  • Satsuma mandarins make the best juice and they are in season from early winter to early spring depending upon where you live

  • Good news one mandarin gives you about half of your vitamin C for the day and 2 grams of fiber

  • Clementines aka "cuties" although good are not the same as satsuma mandarins and do not have the same juice ratio as mandarins are more similar to oranges in this regard.

  • Little known facts: Mandarins originated in China, Clementines are a grafted fruit from a guy in Algeria.

Avocado Toast

“I love things that are indescribable, like the taste of an avocado or the smell of a gardenia.”
— Barbra Streisand

Avocado

It's officially summer.  And to top it off the weather must have heard the news as well because it finally turned into sunshine today.  Honestly I wasn't sure if it was going to happen.  I'm glad. It means good things all around.  Good vibes, healthy feelings, picnics, summer concerts, bathing suits, swimming, and maybe if you're like me library visits for summer reads.

 When I was a kid I lived between the pool and the library.  The summer reading program was more than an encouragement it was my earnings for the summer.  Two panes of glass stood between myself and the prizes that I would earn for reading 10 books.  Everything from free pizza and ice cream coupons, to new books, pencils, notebooks,etc.  The cache they had tucked away  inside the sliding doors of prizes was enormous for a 10 year old.  I don't know how they got the prizes?

Donations?

Freebies?

 All I know was it became my lifelong summer goal to win everything. {I'm not competitive, I promise.😉}

It's funny, it was a challenge for most kids to earn one prize.

Not me.

 Read 10 books and get a prize?  More like read 100 books and get 10 prizes. {Okay maybe I compete a little.🤣}

I was there every week sometimes twice a week collecting prizes.

 I knew the librarians personally and they never questioned my honesty of reading the books.  You had to fill out a slip with the title and authors of all of the books and then you would pick your prize.  It was so simple.  I confess I was and still  a readaholic. I may have to start the 12 step program soon for book nerds.

I am sure that for others, getting through 10 books took them all summer, but for me it was like someone was sitting around giving me free money.  Maybe that's why I like writing now?

 Reading and writing go hand in hand.

 I don't get free pizza now, but wouldn't that be nice?

 Instead I have learned to share. Share my recipes, my ideas, my dreams, my world.

Once a reader always a reader no matter if you like paperbacks, electronic, audio, or whatever form you choose reading opens worlds.

 Cookbooks are included in this list  and they are what helped me learn the odds and ends of cooking.  

Yeah,  there is youtube and all kinds of videos on how to do everything in the kitchen and don't get me wrong, I use them. Alot. You can't be a food blogger and not use them.

 I watch videos, but I still always go back to books.  I'm sure it's age related and what I grew up with but libraries and books will always hold wonderful memories for me. How about you?

I hope wherever you are you have a chance to visit a library this summer.  Maybe it will have to be a virtual library but either way books can open your world.

 After all Avocado Toasts probably became popular from some guy with his thick glasses and cup of coffee wanting to eat breakfast  simply and slowly all while reading his favorite novel that started with I once had a farm in Africa...

 I don't really know, but it might be the start of a great story don't you think?  I'll let you know when the book comes out...😉😉.

 Until then eat Avocado Toast🥑, drink coffee☕️ and Read a book in the sunshine, cause it's summer, and it's a good idea.

Ingredients

  • 1 Slice Bread
  • 1/2 Avocado
  • 1 egg
  • Pinch of cumin seeds
  • Pinch of nigella seeds*
  • PInch of Garlic Powder
  • Crushed pepper(optional for a little kick)
  • Butter
  • Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

Instructions

Step 1

Heat a small pot of water in order to poach egg.  You can add a little  white vinegar to the water to make the poaching easier if you prefer. Crack an egg into a separate dish and once water temperature reaches 110 degrees or starts to bubble slightly then stir water around into a small whirlpool and in center of whirlpool slide egg from dish into pot.  Allow to cook for 3 minutes and then remove with a slotted spoon.

Step 2

While egg is cooking toast bread and then when done butter and add pinch of garlic powder on top of butter.  Cut avocado in half ,save avocado pit in other half do not remove, slice Avocado and remove from skin this is easily done with a spoon.

Step 3

Place egg on Toast and avocado slices surrounding.  Top Avocado and Egg with Salt, Cumin seeds, Nigella seeds and optional crushed pepper.

Eat and enjoy...with a good book and a great cup of coffee.

TIPS

  • Nigella Seeds (aka black caraway) tastes like a combination of onion, black pepper and oregano (purchase above) You will love it!
  • Always Store Avocado leftover halves with the pit inside to keep longer
  • How to tell if an avocado is ripe:
  • Ripen avocados: Place in a paper bag and let sit on counter for 2- 5 days, to ripen even faster add an apple or a kiwi or two which gives off a gas that helps ripen
  • The egg poaching set from OXO works like magic, if you want a little extra help.