Moroccan Spiced Lamb

Holiday Spices with a twist? You got it ! 

Pack a punch of flavor without a ton of prep with this recipe

Ingredients: 

Lamb Loin Chops (1-2 per person depending on size)

Moroccan Spice Blend

Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

pistachios

Red Cabbage (Shredded)

Brussel Sprouts (Shredded)

Moroccan Spice Blend: 

Paprika

Cinnamon

Cumin

Ginger

Coriander

Dressing:

1/2 c Yogurt

1 tsp Honey

2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1 drizzle of olive oil

pinch of Nutmeg

Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions: 

Preheat pan or plancha if cooking indoors, or grill if it's warm enough outside where you are! Start by seasoning the meat with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil and rub spice blend on all sides until well coated. 

Prepare dressing in large bowl, whisking until all ingredients are blended, add shredded cabbage and brussel sprouts, toss until coated

Once the pan is nice and hot, add lamb and don't fuss with it until it is nice and seared (about 4-5 minutes per side depending on how thick it is)

Be sure to sear on top, bottom, then sides. Once the meat starts to firm up around the edges, but still kinda squishy in the middle it is about medium rare which is when I would take it off the heat, cover in foil on cutting board, and let rest 5-10 minutes before serving / cutting into it. The resting time will continue the cooking process a bit more, and lamb can be tough if overcooked. 

Plate with salad and garnish with pistachios

ehhh Voila! 

Spicy Shrimp & Ravioli

If you are feeling the frost of winter, you understand the comfort a dish can bring. This recipe is packed full of flavor!

Serves: 3-4

Time: 20-30 minutes

Ingredients: 

1 package of spinach ravioli (or ravioli of your choice) 

2 carrots (grated)

1 red bell pepper (grated)

1 shallot (finely diced)

1 bunch of fresh basil

1 LB of Shrimp, peeled, deveined

2 Tbsp butter

Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

1/4 c Dry Sherry or white wine

Shrimp Spice mix: 

Sea Salt

Fresh Cracked Black Pepper

Red chili flakes (to desired level of heat)  

1/2 tsp each: paprika, ground coriander, ground ginger, cumin 

1 dash cinnamon

Directions: 

Get a pot of water boiling, wash and prep all veggies

Add spices to shrimp and toss until coated, let marinate

 

In a preheated large skillet add a drizzle of Olive Oil, then immediately add grated carrot, bell pepper, and shallot. Season with salt and pepper to taste, stirring until softened (around 4-6 minutes). Put into bowl and set aside, wipe out pan. 

Follow package directions on ravioli of your choice.

As soon as the ravioli gets dropped in the boiling water, add shrimp to preheated skillet, let the spices toast and shrimp sear, after 1-2 minutes add butter and toss shrimp until fully cooked (about 2-3 minutes per side if your pan was hot enough). Take shrimp out and set aside, leaving fond in pan. add another pat of butter along with dry sherry and 1/4 c of water season to taste, and let simmer until liquid reduces and ravioli is done. 

Drain ravioli well and add to sauce, tossing until coated. 

Plate your grated carrot, ravioli, shrimp and garnish with fresh chopped basil

Hemp Milk Latte

Hemp milk has such a rich, unique flavor! If you haven't tried it, you are in for a treat.

Since I had my first Hemp Milk Latte from Green Zebra Grocery in Portland, OR I have been craving the thick deliciousness almost every day. I really love coffee, but I can't justify spending so much going out everyday. Luckily, hemp milk foams up so nicely, you won't need fancy espresso machine to steam up this silky beverage.

Perfect pairing with breakfast, or afternoon cozy time-out.

Or like me, getting me through the start of Christmas Card signing... 

How is it almost December already??

What you'll need: 

1 cup Unsweetened Hemp Milk

Extra-Strong brewed coffee***

(or espresso/instant espresso if you are desperate)

2 dashes Cinnamon

1 tsp Agave (optional)

First, 

Make your coffee

While your coffee is a brewin', heat your hemp milk in a sauce pan until scalding hot, and just before it is simmering, pour into a blender. 

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TIP: Use a blender with removable hole on the top, cover with kitchen towel so steam can escape but it will not splash out and burn you.

Blend on high for 2-3 minutes or "Smoothie Mode" on some models or until you can see it getting frothy, and slightly lighter in color. 

The milk and foam will slightly separate, this is normal. 

Pour just the milk into a glass (while holding the foam back with a spoon)

Add desired amount of coffee

*Add Agave if desired* and stir

Finally, Top with remaining foam and garnish with a dash or two of cinnamon.

Voila!

GO GET'EM SMOOTHIE

Barbie's favorite smoothie, for sure.

Nutritious and satisfying, great for post-workout or first thing in the morning. I would even call this dessert-worthy!

I love using blenders where the blender cup doubles as a cup. Saves on cleanup time (Lord knows how much I hate doing dishes, that's why he gave me such a great husband!)

Ingredients: 

1/2 Banana

1 small roasted beet

2-3 frozen strawberries

2 Medjool dates (pitted)

2 Tbsp Plain Low Fat Greek Yogurt

1/4-1/2 c Organic Orange Juice

1-2 ice cubes

Blend until smooth and enjoy! 

Salmon Salad Lettuce Cups

Ever wonder what to do with salmon leftovers?

Here is a great solution to stinkin up the break room microwave with fish smell.

Its light, refreshing, and super tasty!

1 cup Cold, cooked salmon, flaked

1 TBSP finely diced white onion

1 diced ripe tomato

2 hard boiled eggs, diced

1 TBSP Mayo, Veganaise, OR sour cream

2 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

Sea salt & Pepper to taste

Lettuce or Cabbage cups

Basil or any fresh herbs you have on hand

Dash of Smoked Paprika or Ancho Chili Powder

Mix all ingredients and serve in lettuce or cabbage cups

Garnish with Basil or any fresh herbs you have

Keeps well in the fridge, perfect for a picnic, fancy passed appetizers at a party, or a healthy snack!

Chia Green Juice

JUICE!

This recipe is perfect for mid-morning snack or afternoon pick-me-up

You can do fresh squeezed for optimal nutrients or use the juices I have listed in the recipe. Either way, it is sweet and satisfying. Chia seeds add fiber, protein, and antioxidents. Triple threat.

1 Heaping TBSP hydrated chia seeds*

1 part Organic Mighty Greens Juice**

1 part Organic Orange Juice

*I hydrate my chia seeds overnight in coconut water, adds great flavor to any juice/salad dressing/sauce

FEEL FREE TO CREATE YOUR OWN GREEN JUICE- I find using this one saves time, money, energy, and dishes. (I hate dishes) 

**SUJA Essentials is USDA Organic Mighty Greens juice, including apple, celery, cucumber, kale, collard Greens, lemon, mint tea, spinach, ginger, spirulina, chlorella, barley grass, alfalfa grass

I recommend putting a splash of OJ in the chia seeds and stirring to smooth out all the lumps before adding the remaining liquid

Healthy Brekky Options

A few requirements for my breakfasts- they must be able to be assembled around 5-10 minutes, and served with a nice cup of Colombian coffee- Here are a couple of my go-to recipes for breakfast

HOT & COLD Combo-

1 serving hot oatmeal

1/3 c cold Chia Seed pudding 

(Chia seeds soaked overnight in coconut milk)

Fresh Seasonal Fruit

Small handful of granola for some crunch!

No time for Chia Seeds? 

No Problem.

1 Serving hot oatmeal

Fresh Seasonal fruit (banana, strawberry, blueberry)

1 TBSP Organic shredded coconut flakes

2 TBSP crunchy cinnamon Granola

Drizzle honey on top & serve!

Featured Artist- Melissa Ormonde

Meet Melissa Ormonde- The craft queen, reining from Arroyo Grande, California. She's an award-winning seamstress, and vintage artifacts collector; a truly inspiring combination! Whether she is arranging succulents, thrift store shopping, or sewing sheets into swing dancing dresses, her love and dedication to preserving the past is impressive! She is always finding creative ways to recycle and upcycle used fabric, and rescues pieces of the past from garage sales. She studied anthropology (no, not the clothing store) and spent 2 years in Tonga for the Peace Corps.

Melissa Ormonde- DIY-er & More

Handmade Bags for a local  craft fair in Halcyon, California

Handmade Resin Earrings for craft fair in Halcyon, California

Handmade Hair Bows- Halcyon, California

Shopping bags made from recycled sheets- Halcyon, California

Origami Jewelry

Handmade graphic pendants              recycled vintage clothing

You can view her ETSY Shop HERE

You can view her Scavenger Hunt Blog HERE

Reclaimed wood = Functional and Decorative

Get Inspired

Sugarboo Designs has created some amazing products using reclaimed wood. Perfect for shabby-chic decorating, wedding day accent pieces, or a garden installation piece. From painted wood blocks (photo below) to reclaimed wood picture frames,the designs are classic. Use them to inspire your next DIY recycled wood project 

Decorative Reclaimed wood blocks by Sugarboo Designs

Shattered Furniture Collection by Brent Comber

DIY Knife Organizer DIRECTIONS HERE

Reclaimed Wood Ottoman by Anthony Wolf

Reclaimed Wood Furniture by Terry Waters French Polishing

Choi Jeong-Hwa

Well, this is one way to recycle old doors. South Korean artist CHOI JEONG-HWA uses found objects and a variety of media to create extraordinary installations. 

1000 Doors Art Installation, 2009, Seoul, South Korea

Olympic Stadium gets a makeover in Seoul

View more at THE CREATORS PROJECT

Gather Together- One man's trash

Plastic columns, 2012, the MOTHER of DESIGN, Marunouchi HOUSE, Tokyo

Reclaimed Barn Doors

Repurposed Barn Doors

They make for a great interior element as a door, room divider, or window covering.

Create a "shabby-chic" feel with neutral tones paired with clean white accents

For small spaces, a sliding door may be more practical than a swinging door, here it is paired with modern elements to create a nice contrast.

In a larger room, the horizontal pattern of these doors give a warm feeling as a room divider. These doors also would be great to absorb sound in a big space

Rachel Rodwell - PODTEX

My biggest problem with "Coffee Pods" has been the excessive packaging, and wasteful nature of individually encased servings of coffee grounds. It is refreshing to see someone doing something about it! 

Rachel Rodwell's branding of PODTEX will be Launching July 1st and I cant wait to see what she comes up with next!

PODTEX from Tim Doldissen on Vimeo.

Spring Time Pallet Gardening Ideas

Spring has sprung! What a better way to celebrate than starting a garden! Even in a small space here are some great ideas using pallets and reclaimed wood to create an oasis of your own!

Vertical Pallet Wall Garden

Reclaimed wood (think old picture frames!) Garden boxes Chevron Pattern

Pallet reclaimed wood Garden Box

Perfect for small spaces, Vertical Pallet Garden

Simone Tasca

Designer Simone Tasca stacked twelve reclaimed wood shipping pallets and created one comfortable looking spot to invite a 
group of friends to lay back and watch a movie.

Reclaimed Pallet Wood Accent Walls

CREATE Great Accent Wall using reclaimed Pallets/Wood

These examples all use a horizontal mounting pattern starting from the bottom up. Sand down or chemically clean the wood prior to staining and/or sealing the wood. Then mount to desired effect.

The feeling created can range from rustic to modern, and eccentric

Great uses creating Shelving, Jewelry box, or Tool Storage Space

Give a cabin-like makeover to your attic or basement. It will add warmth and change the tone of the room especially if it is a large echo-ey space

Paired with a modern low bed, and cheap industrial lighting fixtures

Cozy Retro "That 70's Show" Deco

Adding other reclaimed & painted wood gives a dramatic accent wall that is FAR different from a dark cabin look

Nursery makeover, Modern and warm

LACE

LACE

Elegant. Sexy. What more do you need? Very simple designs can be completely transformed by lace. The textures can vary greatly, and can add dimension to monochrome designs