Goody Balls

That's right.  You read correctly.  Goody Balls.  They are special, in a healthy, delicious kind of way that is.  I can't really give you an exact recipe for these, because I have never measured any of the ingredients the many times I've made them.  But here is a general portion approximation for those of you who wish to make them.  It's totally worth it too.  They are a great little energy pick-me-up and a nice little satisfying bite of sweetness after dinner.

Peanut Butter

Honey

      (These are the two main ingredients- about a 3:1 ratio of PB to Honey)

Ground Flax Seed

Wheat Germ

Cocoa Powder of Carob Powder

Toasted Sesame Seeds

Toasted Sunflower Seeds

Coarsely Chopped Dried Cranberries

Really you can add any dried fruit, seeds, or nuts that you like.  Example: dried apricots, cherries, raisins, dates, figs.  Chopped almonds, pecans, cashews, pine nuts.  Pumpkin seeds, etc.

Did you say you made a Crisp???

Apple, Pear, Blueberry, Ginger Crisp

Ingredients:

5 small apples peeled and diced

1 large pear peeled and diced

1/2 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries

1/2 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of amber agave nectar

1/4 cup of flour

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. freshly grated ginger root

Topping:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup of chopped nuts (such as walnuts, pecan, or almonds)

1/2 cup of oats

1 tsp. cinnamon

6 Tbsp. cold butter cut into small cubes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the first four ingredients in a large bowl and let it sit for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Mix the agave nectar, 1/4 cup of flour, vanilla, and ginger in a small bowl.  Toss with the fruit mixture.

Butter a deep dish pie pan. Pour fruit mixture into pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the topping in a bowl with your fingers: flour, brown sugar, nuts, oats, cinnamon, and butter.  Mash up until fully combined together.  Sprinkle on top of the fruit and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, or serve it at room temperature with some fresh whipped cream.

Waking Up

Somedays, the second I step out the door, the birds tell me that Spring is coming.  Do you know that sound, smell, and feel that spring is right around the corner?  This morning in particular, the birds sounded so freakin happy chirping away up in the big maple tree, the grass was damp, the air was warm and humid, and the sun was slowing burning off the thin clouds that stretched across the sky.

My compost pile looks like a big sleeping bear quietly hibernating in the back of my yard. Collecting my kitchen scraps and laying green material (food scraps) onto brown material (straw and leaves that I store in the ground cellar) and layers of dirt throughout slowing keeps the pile growing.  It doesn't seem to be going anywhere right now, but once the weather warms up, it will start to 'move' a lot more quickly.

I need to keep something green and edible in the house while it is cold and gray outside.  I seeded this little organic leaf lettuce into a window box planter. They stay warm on the radiator and get a little sunlight (not enough this time of year) through the big kitchen window.  They won't get huge or thick, but it's just the sight of them growing big and tall in just a matter of days is what is most exciting.  I will soon trim them off and through them onto a salad or in some soup.  They are more like sprouts than lettuce greens, but still just as delicious!

There's also no harm in attempting to grow a pineapple top. I cut this little guy up for dinner the other night and instead of composting the green top of the fruit, I potted it up in some succulent soil mix.  We'll see what happens, I will keep you updated!