Buffalo Green Code Meetings this week!

Now is the time to get involved! We have been talking for months about the City of Buffalo's overhaul of the current zoning code. The public participation meetings are happening this week!

You can attend any of the three meetings - doesn't matter where you live - just go to the one that fits best with your schedule.

HKHC has prepared a flyer that helps to explain a bit about the Green Code process. Click here and you can download the flyer!

EtsyKids Team Christmas In July Sale



Harvest Moon by Hand is a member of the EtsyKids team, and
is participating in its annual 
EtsyKids Team Christmas In July Sale!

 There are two ways to visit the team shops: 

1. Use the links below to visit each shop.
(A link to Harvest Moon by Hand's shop and the discount code is below.)

2. Go to http://www.etsy.com and in the search box use EK christmasinjuly or EK CIJ
to view some of the many items available for sale.

Please enjoy and take advantage of these great sale, deals, and steals!

Hurry the team sale is from July 14th - 31st!

Here is a list of participating shops that are having a sale:

2 Sprouts Stitchery

Stitched Stuff for Families to use and love everyday!
Sewing for babies, kids, and moms. 10% off entire store with coupon code: christmasinjuly

AliBeanBaby
Infant through size 8 little girl's clothing and nursing covers
10% off  all items except already discounted items in my sample/discounted section   coupon code is CIJ10

Alittlerosiebowtique
Hairbows, headbands, hair clips,pony tail holders, etc.
Offering 25% off entire purchase. using coupon code CIJ25

Auntie Robin 
Clothing for little girls and quilts for babies and toddlers.
All in-stock items will be included in sale at 15% off with coupon code JULY15.


Aunty Ann Designs  
Wild, Fun and Unique Sock Monkeys.
Bonus will be "free" name embroidery with sock monkey or blankey purchase.  Be sure to put EKBONUS in comments at checkout with the name. Plus a special 10% discount when using the code EKSAVE10 at checkout on all purchases.
 
Ava Bowtique  
I sell all kinds of hair accessories.
All items will be 10% off.
 
babe-a-gogo    
Christmas themed lounge pants on sale.
The lounge pants will have free shipping.
 
BabyChicCreations 
Custom-made clothing and accessories for babies and toddlers.
Offering free shipping on select items and 15% all car cozies and crayon rolls
 
Baresockcrafts  
I sell baby and kids toys and christmas ornaments.
I will offer 15% entire store coupon code Christmas10.

Bebbyjumpers 
I sell quality handknits for babies and children.
10% discount off the purchase price coupon code is ~ xmasjuly2011
 
berchtasbelly1  
30% off sale on anything red in my shop.
 
Bethanys5  
Photo prop crochet hats. 
All holiday items 20% off.
 
Bibs Blankets and More  
Bibs, receiving blankets, baby gift baskets, nursing pillow covers. 
Promo: Free Shipping
 
BillieTK  
I sell fine art and art prints for children's rooms and the young at heart.
Use code FREESHIP for free shipping (domestically) on anything in the shop.
 
BirdsongBows  
Accessories and patterns. 
15% off storewide.
 
Bison Girl  
Bison Booties (soft-sole infant/baby/toddler booties made with designer cotton fabrics). 
15% off all Bison Booties with code "SUMMER15.
 
Blush and Bashful Studio  
Crochet designs for all ages.
Free Shipping Promo.
 
blushprintables  
I design photo cards and invitations for birthdays, parties, and events.
15% off all photo cards.
 
Brandisbowboutique  
Bows, clips, hats, botties and other crocheted items. 
25% off your entire order.
 
BronStar Originals  
Growth Charts, Art Prints, Bow Holders. 
Free Shipping(Excluding Stretched Canvas).
 
BurpieBundles 
BOGO Half Off Wristlet Key Fobs.
Coupon Code is BOGOFOB... Users are also required to ""Like"" my Facebook Page.

Chew Chew's Closet
Children's clothing and accessories.
15% off your total order excluding shipping Coupon code: ChristmasinJuly.

Childishthoughts 
Childrens toys, example: crayon rolls, tool belts, car rolls, crayon aprons and some fun dressin up dresses. My sale will be 20% entire purchase.

ChipperCuteGirl
Elementary school memory books for mothers and daughters.
20% off storewide using code "EtsyKids20".

christinamcdaniel
I am going to have lots of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas shirts listed and all will be buy one get one half off!

CollieOllieDesigns 
I sell children's clothing -- skirts, dresses, onesies, t-shirts, and more
offering 25% off your entire order.

crocheting4baby {aka Tutus & Tea Parties} 
Crochet beanies and blankets, handpainted baby bodysuits, and tutus.
All will be included in the sale Free Shipping.

Cuckooboo 
Hair accessories for kids, pacifier clips for babies, badge clips and stethoscope tags for adults.
15% off everything.

CupcakeDream 
Photo Birthday Invitations and Party Supplies.
15% off all birthday invitations with code: JULYSAVE.

cutieflair 
Cute items you'll find in my shop: cloth dolls, cloth baby dolls, headbands, aprons, print artwork,original nursery paintings.
50% in most of my handmade items with tag: EK Christmasinjuly Free shipping in most of my items with tag: EK Christmasinjuly.

CutiesTieDyeBoutique 
Custom Party Invitations and Decorations, Personalized TShirts.
15% off of Entire Purchase - Use Coupon Code ETSYKIDSROCK.

DaniJoDesigns 
I make felt sets, felt boards to go, felt animal masks and felt books.
15% off entire purchase excluding felt books. coupon codechristmasinjuly15.

Dapple Gray Designs 
Clothes that are cute & comfortable for little boys and sweet & sassy for little girls! - dresses, shirts, skirts. 40% off entire purchase (excluding shipping) - Code CIJ40.

Darcey Lane Designs 
Sassy Ruffle Fancy Pants (Bloomers), pillowcase dress. Christmas outfits, birthday outfits.
15% off.

Denise Jacobson- Momma Fix 
Little girl dresses sizes 6 months-9 years.
My sale will be 40% off entire stock of dresses.

Dinos In Space 
One of a kind felt applique wall pieces for kids of all ages.
I am going to be having a 20% off sale of everything in the shop, plus I slashed the shipping charges!

Dragonfly Bowtique 
Hair Accessories.
30% off using code christmasinjuly Spend and receive a free item (buyer does not choose this item).

Fairy Godmother for Hire 
Selling children's dress up costumes.
Free shipping to the US coupon code SandyClaws.

felted kitten 
Felt crowns
All items in my shop will be 10% - 50% off.

goldenneedlecreation 
I sell natural, Waldorf inspired toys, dolls and pretty treasures for children of all ages!
I will offer free shipping coupon code XMASINJULY1.
All items in my shop will be included in the Christmas in July special.

GrannyZann 
Children's Clothing, Accessories, Granny's Little Blessing Dolls.
Entire shop will be on sale Free Shipping US. Discounted shipping Everywhere Else. use code FREESHIP.

Harvest Moon by Hand 
Origami window stars/suncatchers, hand-embroidered/all-natural toys for children; needlefelted toys made from all-natural sheep wool; PDF patterns, children's accessories, and crafting supplies.

Everything is for sale in the shop! Use code EKCIJ10 to get 10% off everything in the shop (products only; not on shipping).

himama 
Changing pad covers, fun pillow cases, and coffee clutches.
Free shipping as my promo with the purchase code of 711ChristmasinJuly.

jencdesigns 
I sell custom, handmade art, clothing for children, and drawings.
20% off anything plus a free surprise gift with each purchase.

jjkgirlythings 
Baby, girls some teen and adult hair accessories.
Offering 30% off discount on entire order.

Kidz Wiz Padz 
Waterproof Carseat Padz-Great for potty training on-the-go!
Buy one, Get one 1/2 off coupon code KWPCIJ.

Kind Living Designs 
Personalized gift items.
will be on sale a % off.

Knitstyle 
Stylish Cloth Play Blocks and hand knit items.
BUY 1 MEDIUM sized cloth play block, get 1 FREE.

Kooky Critters 
Tooth fairy pillows, baby blankets, t-shirts, bed pillows and plush critters.
Use coupon code LSLSL10DIS for 10% off anything in my shop!

laniec1- Niah Bella 
Custom kids clothing and a few other tidbits.
Get free shipping all month and on all items by using coupon code FreeShip.

Lil.B.Designs 
Creative on-the-go-fun for young Picassos: art folios, crayon rolls, and Dine.n.Doodle mats.
Free Shipping (worldwide) on children's products.

lillollipop 
I sell lil ones clothes and things for baby or lil ones rooms.
FREE shipping to USA all through July and a free custom painting for your lil one.

Linda's Krafty Kreations 
I sell felt quiet books and toys and stuffed animals .
offering 15% off of any purchase before shipping.

Little Miss Iz 
Little girls Skirts and leggings - size 12 months to 6T.
15% off entire purchase, shipping not included. Code CIJ15.

Little Purple Dragonfly 
Boutique Hair Accessories and so much more!
15% off using Code: CIJSave15.

Little Sweetie Boutique 
Little girls pillowcase dresses & skirts.
10% off all items.

looploft 
Fiber arts made with repurposed + natural materials... softies, tooth fairy pillows, wall art, fiber jewelry, party decor and lots more!
10% off entire shop and free shipping on christmas stockings.

Lovely's Baby Boutique
Diaper Cakes/Cupcakes, Hair Clips, Boutique Diaper Wipe Cases.
15% off entire purchase.

Lucy Mae Designs
Boys Tie Shirts and Hair Accessories.
FREE SHIPPING on all hair accessories .

MaggieHeirlooms 
Heirloom Children's Clothing .
10% off (coupon code CHRISTMAS) on all new custom orders that are paid in full.
25% off (coupon code RTS25) on all "Ready To Ship" items.

mandag433 
Specialize in newborn - children photography props including hats and booties. I have a great red and green stocking hat, with jingle bells that is a big seller for christmas pictures!
Offering 20% off items in my shop.

Markoos Modern Design
Modern Kid's clothing and accessories.
Offering a 15% discount on all purchases with code - 711XMAS.

maxandmagnolia 
Specialize in hand dyed & stenciled baby onesies, but sell paci clips, look books, & I SPY bean bags.
FREE SHIPPING.

Michelle's Zoo 
Stuffed Animals.
20% entire purchase coupon code is CIJ20.

Monkeys 'N Munchkins 
Children's jewelry (baptism, flower girl, big sister/big brother, everyday, special occasions).
15% off entire purchase with code "july15".

My Little Angel Co. 
Diaper cakes, baby shower items, hair clips, beanie caps, and headbands.
40% off hair clips and headbands, coupon code is SANTASWEATIN.

My Little Pixies 
Creative Hair Accessories All Christmas and Holiday items will be marked.
15% off. These items will be featured in the "Christmas Preview 2011" category in my shop.

My Lovebug Baby 
Useful items for mom and baby.
Free Shipping to US & Canada with code: FREESHIP.

My True Nature 
Natural & organic kids bath products.
30% off using code "christmasinjuly".

MyArtsyBaby 
Everything! Custom children's wall art, canvas & wood growth charts, wood surfboards, wood dolls.
Use coupon code OPENJULY for 20% off everything!

Nana Brown's 
Insulated Lunch Bags, Reusable Sandwich Bags, Sun Hats, Travel Crayon Caddies, Baby Bibs, Cosmetic Bags, and more.
15% off purchase, excluding postage. Coupon code FIFTEEN.

Nikki, In Stitches 
Handmade hair accessories.
15% off storewide...coupon code JULY15.

Northwoods Toys 
Felt play food and plushies.
Free Shipping promo.

NotyBaby
Handmade children's accessories: blankets, car seat canopies, bibs, burpies, paci-bibs, changing mats, pillow shams, nursing covers & adult throws.
15% off all items during CIJ promo event  Use coupon code: JULYXMAS.

OriginaliTeeToo 
Embroidered hair bows, bottle cap hairbows, embroidered clothing and accessories.
Offering FREE SHIPPING on any order over .

PetalPetal 
Children's couture including modern, customizable birthday and flower girl outfits.
Enter SUMMERISFORLOVE for 20% off your entire order!

Pickled Beads Jewelry 
All children's jewelry.
Free Shipping (Domestic (US) Orders Only).

Pink Stripe 
We make Fun and Funky Goodies for Children and their Families. Sale items include tie shirts, birthday shirts, tulle cupcake aprons and lots of other fun goodies!!
HUGE sample sale on ready to ship items-- plus low flat rate shipping for unlimited sale items.

pippiclippis 
Felt play food, unique plushies and rattles among other kids goodies.
Free US shipping for july- JULYSHIP coupon code.

QuiltedHugsBibs
Infants/toddler quilted waterproof bibs/sets & coordinating paci clips - all bibs are individually quilted .
Use FREESHIP at checkout.

Red Baby by Redrane 
Baby and Toddler Items - Swaddling blankets, burpies, car seat blankets, some OOAK clothing.
10-35% off selected items.

Reet Momma 
Make personalized xmas stockings and each one is uniquely designed for the person.

Snuggly Monkey 
Ouchie Pouches, Toys and Accessories.
Certain items are 20-25% off - look for the "CIJ SALE" in the title (including my Snuggly Baby Dolls!); And 10% off all non-CIJ SALE items with CIJSALE coupon code.

sugarbumps creations 
Unique children's appliques, accessories, and clothing.
20% off any purchase coupon code  JULYSALE.

Sunny Brook Farm Design 
Specific items marked down with "Sale" in the title.

SweeterThanSweets 
All holiday items - hooded towels, hair clips, etc. - will be on sale.
20% off all holiday items.

Swirly Sensations
Tie dyed items (tshirts, dresses, bags..etc).
FREE SHIPPING on all READY TO SHIP items.

The Bitsy Beau
Childrens hair accessories and hand knit hats.
Entire store is 15% off with coupon code CIJ15 and a free gift with or more purchased.

The Little LOVE Bug 
Felt Play Food.
Use coupon code LOVE15BUG for 15% off your order.

The Lollipop Boutique 
Hair accessories (bows, clips, headbands etc), Baby wipe cases.

the trendy tot 
Red Snow Flake Jumper and other items are also available in the sale section.

The Trendy Tot Shop 
Tutus, tutu outfits, and flower headbands. Everything will be on sale.
10% off everything just enter coupon code christmasinjuly.

The Voodoo Kitten- Cranky Cat Studio 
Baby and toddler items including blankets, bibs, burps, clothing, hair accessories, diaper bags, and more. 20% off everything.

Trendy Tykes- TTykes 
Embroidered items for Infants, Toddlers & Moms.
I will have my Cookies & Milk Place Mat & my Princess Playwear Jacket on sale @ 20% off plus free shipping on both items.

TwoLovebugs 
Baby blankets, burp cloths etc.
Everything will be 20% off with coupon code JulyXmas.

TZ Burps 
Plush owls and birds and other gifts for children.
20% off purchase with coupon code Julyxmas.

Villa Pernilla 
A free snackbag with every order in my shop.

WalterSilva aka: Silva Ware 
Kid's Decor, Original ART, Wall Plaques, Wall Sculptures .
Everything in the Shop 15% off.

Zoe Girl Designs
Children's Clothing Boutique.
Buy 2 items and receive the 3rd item 50% off (3rd item must be of equal or less value).

Almond Meal Cookies

It is Sweet Punch time of the month again! We are celebrating our one year anniversary and we were allowed to bake any item of our choice! We have been baking pizzas, wholewheat almond cookies,  fruit crumbles, molten lava cakes and many more interesting bakes! I chose to adapt Martha Stewart recipe this month and bake this delicious almond meal cookies. They were perfect for tea time and they tasted very much like the chinese almond cookies served at restaurants after meals.

 They are so easy to put together and can also be made with fresh almonds instead of almond meal. I just had a pack of almond meal from TJ's waiting to be finished up and hence used it in this recipe.

Ingredients
Almond meal - 1 cup
Unsalted butter (at room temperature) - 1 cup
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Egg - 1
Finely grated orange zest - 1 teaspoon
All purpose flour/maida - 1 cup
Baking soda - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt - 1/4 teaspoon

Note: If using whole almonds instead of the almond meal, toast 1 cup of almonds in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 5 to 6 minutes. Allow it to cool and pulse in a food processor until finely powdered. Do not over process as it might turn into almond butter.

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer or with a whisk until it turns fluffy. Add the whole egg and the orange zest and continue beating until it turns into a smooth mixture.
• In another bowl, whisk all the dry ingredients together - the flour, almond meal, salt and baking soda.
• Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well incorporated.
• Grease or line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Using 1 level tablespoon per cookie, roll dough into balls. Place on prepared sheets, at least 1 inch apart. Using the floured end of a thick wooden spoon handle (or your thumb), press lightly in the center of each cookie. Place a whole almond or sliced almonds in each indentation.
• Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly; transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. 

Enjoy with tea or as a dessert!

Raising Butterflies

Sophia, Olivia, and I found four caterpillars on my parents' carrots in their vegetable garden on July 2nd. The girls were excited to see different caterpillars than the monarchs that they've raised during past summers. These caterpillars are much bigger than monarch caterpillars.

Black swallowtail caterpillar.

Notice the thin silk thread that it made.

It attaches to its body and the stick.

When we came home, I looked up on the internet the type of caterpillar and what the butterfly will look like. Found out they are the black swallowtail butterfly that like to eat plants in the carrot family.

The first butterfly had already transformed itself in two days.

Notice how it it blends in with the background.

The thin silk thread it makes prior to turning itself into a chrysallis

is on the right hand side.

Found out that the black swallowtail caterpillar will make its cocoon similar in color to its surroundings. Three of the cocoons are green and one is brown (the caterpillar chose to make a cocoon on a stick).

All of the cocoons are held in place by a very thin silk line.

Once the butterflies emerge, the pictures will be added to this post so the life cycle is shown in one place.

Around the World: The Southwest

This lunch showcases some of the traditional foods of the southwestern region of the United States, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado: Corncob Cornbread, Anasazi Beans with roasted chiles, Prickly Pear Pudding, Fried Nopales, and a Baby Squash Medley topped with sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

Just for fun I used scissors to cut corn tortillas into "cornhusk" shapes and wrapped them around the cornbread to resemble fresh ears of corn. The tortilla strips are used for scooping up bites of beans and nopales at lunch time.

One cactus is in this lunch, served two ways: First, nopales are the flat, green pads of the prickly pear cactus. When cooked they taste something like lemony green beans, with a slippery quality like okra. They're very popular at the Hispanic grocery store in my town, where I usually have to stand in line to get to them, in bags already deprickled and diced. (I cut a whole pad into a little garnish, too.) Next, the red fruit of the prickly pear cactus is made into a sweet syrup that flavors the nondairy pudding for dessert.

Link: Vegan Lunch Box Around the World.

Grilled cheese sandwich triangles, Masoor, orange and apple slices, garbanzo beans

Grilled cheese sandwich triangles : whole grain bread slices, some finely grated baby carrots, american cheese slices and grated parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. I grilled it on the nonstick pan with few drops of olive oil and cut it into triangles.
Soaked whole Masoor (lentils). they didn't sprout yet.
Tangerine (orange) and apple slices.
Soaked and cooked (with salt) garbanzo beans.

Paneer Butter Masala - Version II

Paneer Butter Masala or Paneer Makhani is a signature Indian curry made with Paneer or Indian cheese. This tastes best with homemade paneer. I usually make PBM according to this recipe, but this version is richer due to the addition of cashews. You can never go wrong with this recipe. It is so easy to make this and tastes delicious with naan or rotis or chapatis or any kind of rice!

This curry is similar to other paneer gravies, except that, it is more rich due to butter and the gravy is thickened by using onions, tomatoes and cashew paste rather than just cream. I omitted the cream, since I felt the gravy was already rich with the addition of butter and cashews.

Ingredients
Onion - 1 medium sized
Tomato - 2 medium sized
Paneer - about 250 grams
Butter/Ghee - 2 tablespoons
Ginger garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
Green chillies - 2
Green peas - 1/2 cup(optional)
Jeera/Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
Cumin/Jeera powder - 1 teaspoon
Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
Garam masala - 1 teaspoon
Chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon
Cashews - around 10 to 12
Salt to taste
Cilantro for garnish

Directions

• In a kadai heat 1 teaspoon of oil and add chopped onions and saute for about two minutes until they start getting brown in color. Then add the ginger garlic paste and saute for a minute until the raw smell goes away. Then add the diced tomatoes and saute until the tomatoes turn mushy. Switch off the stove and allow the mixture to cool.
• When the mixture gets to room temperature, add this mixture to the mixie along with the cashews and blend into a smooth paste.
• In a kadai, add the butter and add the cumin seeds. once they start spluttering, add the blended onion-tomato mixture and saute until the raw smell goes away. Add the turmeric powder, cumin-coriander powder, garam masala and chilli powder and salt. Mix together and saute for about a minute.
• At this point, add the diced paneer and saute until the mixture coats the paneer. Also add the peas if using. Green peas is usually added only in mutter paneer and not in paneer butter masala. but I like the fact that the peas adds a little more color and sweetness to the dish. Allow to cook for a minute and then add half cup of water. You can substitute the water with heavy cream or a little milk. However keep the heat low so that the milk doesn't curdle. I just added water.
• Cover with a lid and allow the gravy to simmer on low heat for about 5 to 7 minutes until the paneer absorbs all the spices and the flavor. 

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with your favorite side. I served this delicious curry with green peas pulao!

Show Me Your Soup - Roundup

Here is the roundup of Show Me Your Soup event. Thanks everyone for your delicious soup entries.

Sameena Pratap - Ladies Finger Soup
Sameena Pratap - Oats Soup


Sweet Artichoke - Spinach Ginger Soup
Krithika - Mixed Vegetable Soup


Hasna - Hot and Sour Soup
Smitha - Tomato Carrot and Bottlegourd Soup


Meghna - Vegetarian Pasta e Fagioli
Urmila - Asparagus Soup


Supriya - Veggie Noodle Soup
Supriya - Roasted Red Pepper Carrot Soup


Chitra and Dibs - Horse Gram Thin Soup
Usha - Spinach Orange Soup


Usha - Bone Soup
Ila Nila - Celery Soup


Sameena Pratap - Sweet Corn Veg Soup

Do check out the current event - Show Me your Summer Cooler! going on now at Dil Se..

Around the World: Italy Again

Here's another "Around the World" menu inspired by the cuisine of Italy: Grilled Vegetable Stromboli, Balsamic Strawberries, and a green salad with Italian dressing.

Stromboli is usually made by rolling meats and cheeses up into an Italian bread dough before it's baked. After the loaf is cooked and cooled it's cut into slices and served. You can easily make stromboli with vegan meats and cheeses, but I decided to switch things up and use an assortment of grilled vegetables and a layer of roasted garlic instead.

This lunch was photographed in a Lunchsense lunch box. The owner was kind enough to send me a Lunchsense to photograph for my book, and everyone who saw it was impressed. The containers have tight lids and fit together perfectly along with an ice pack and beverage container in the lunch box, which has a nice shoulder strap and also folds out to make a place mat for your meal. It's a great design, especially if your kids are old enough not to lose track of their containers and lids.

Link: Vegan Lunch Box Around the World.

What is Zoning?

Some of you may be asking yourselves why zoning matters to you. The following is an excerpt from the City of Buffalo's Green Code website:

"A zoning Ordinance is a document containing rules, requirements and standards that guide and direct the use of structures and land, and the form and location of structures in a manner that carries out the policies of the Comprehensive Plan. It determines whether the design and use of neighboring buildings complement each other or conflict with each other. It determines whether the places that people live, work and play are clustered together or separated from each other. It determines the process through which change occurs and whether these changes happen in a manner equally transparent and predictable for the developers of land and residents of the neighborhoods in which they develop."

For those of us interested in health - zoning can support healthy neighborhood design. It can support the inclusion of grocery stores, parks and community centers. On the flip side, it can exclude or limit the number of unhealthy uses like liquor stores and fast food restaurants.

Tonight is the first Green Code meetings - come out and show your support for healthy community planning! Check out the Buffalo Green Code website at www.buffalogreencode.com for location and time information - or see the previous posts! See you tonight!

Around the World: Morocco

Oh, I can't look at this picture without wanting to make and eat this all again! This is the menu for Morocco: Moroccan Tagine, Orange Couscous, tangerines (named after the city of Tangier, in Morocco!), and Cinnamon-Sugar Almonds.

Tagine is a thick Moroccan stew made with chickpeas, vegetables (tomatoes, zucchini, butternut squash, and peppers), raisins and spices, served on a fluffy bed of couscous. Couscous looks like a grain but is actually a tiny semolina pasta; it is a staple food in the cultural area of North Africa known as the Maghreb (west), which includes Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia. So there you go -- your geography lesson for the day!

The toasty, sugared almonds are actually even better using whole blanched almonds (almonds without their skins), but I wasn't able to locate any locally for the photo shoot.

Link: Vegan Lunch Box Around the World.

Mirchi ka Salan

Even though I have seen several versions of Mirchi ka Salan around in the blog world, I haven't really tasted it myself. I only knew it was really spicy because of the jalapenos or peppers present in the curry. We happened to taste this in an Indian restaurant one weekend and got hooked to its taste. I knew, i had to make it at home and got a bunch of jalapeno peppers just to make this curry. I adapted this recipe according to our tastes and it turned out to be truly delicious. this recipe is a keeper.

This is a specialty of the cuisine of Andhra which is famous for all its spicy stuff starting from biryani to pickles. Whole chillies or pepper are pan fried in oil and then added to a thick gravy made with a mixture of sesame and peanuts which mellows down the spice level of the peppers making it tolerable to eat!I removed the inner seeds of the jalapenos to reduce the heat level. If you want the curry to be really really spicy, go ahead and leave the seeds in there at your own discretion!

Ingredients
Jalapenos/Chillies/Peppers (any variety) - 6
Red chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon
Cumin/Jeera powder - 1 teaspoon
Tamarind pulp - from a lemon sized ball of tamarind
Oil - 2 spoons

To grind into a smooth paste
Peanuts - 1/2 cup
Sesame seeds - 2 tablespoons
Onions - 1/2 chopped
Ginger garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
Cinnamon - 1/2 inch
Cloves - 3 to 4

For the tadka/tempering
Oil - 1 teaspoon
Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
Jeera/cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
Methi/fenugreek seeds - 1/4 teaspoon
Curry leaves - a few


Directions

• First prepare the jalapenos. Slit the jalapenos from the bottom about half way keeping the stem/stalk intact. Carefully remove the pith present in the center of the peppers along with the seeds. Take care to wash your hands immediately after handling the peppers to avoid hand burns.
• In a wide skillet, add the oil. Once the oil turns hot, add the prepared peppers. Immediately cover with a lid because the oil starts spluttering outside. After about a minute, open the lid and give the peppers a turn. Cover and cook for two more minutes until the peppers have charred a little bit and the skin turns color. Remove the peppers and keep them aside.
• Grind the ingredients listed into a smooth paste adding a little water.
• In a saucepan/kadai, heat the oil for tempering and add the mustard seeds, jeera, methi and curry leaves one by one. Add the charred jalapeno peppers, chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric powder and the ground paste. Also add the tamarind pulp. Add about 1 cup or required quantity of water and required amount of salt to taste.
• Cover and allow the gravy to simmer for around 12 to 15 minutes. The gravy should thicken and soak the jalapeno peppers with all the goodness!

Garnish with cilantro.

Serve along with chapatis, rotis, naan, plain rice or pulaos. Also tastes great with curd rice!!

Ready for some spice in your life?

Japanese pizza or pancake, marinated and roasted lotus root slices,grapes and strawberries

Japanese pancake (okonomiyaki) : This is a savory pancake - a vegetarian version closer to japanese pancake or pizza. This is clean the fridge recipe...can be made with many vegetables.

3 cups cabbage thinly cut into strings, grated carrots 1/2 cup, sliced mushrooms, 2 tablespoon while wheat flour, 1/3 cup grated raw nagaimo root [optional or potato/taro root can be used], 2 teaspoon ketchup, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, salt. Mix it all together without any water. With few drops of oil make mini pancakes on the nonstick pan. Cook from both sides.

It already has ketchup but kids can eat enormous ketchup. This is a very good picnic food...lunchbox item.

Marinated and roasted lotus root slices : lotus root slices marinated in soy sauce + salt + sesame oil + rice vinegar and roasted on the pan.

Lotus root being a starchy root doesn't have much nutritional value...its different taste makes it a fun food to eat. Fresh lotus root is available at any supermarkets. Asian stores like Uwajimaya carry it in frozen sections too.

grapes and strawberries.

Around the World: Indonesia

Indonesia -- land of tempeh! For those of you not familiar, tempeh is made by cooking and fermenting whole soybeans until they form a solid cake that can be sliced and steamed or fried; it has a nutty, mushroomy flavor and a firm texture. Nutritionally, tempeh has more bioavailable protein than tofu or plain cooked soybeans, and the fermentation process makes it easier to digest. So thank you, Indonesia, for inventing my favorite soy food and a vegan protein powerhouse!

Lunch inspired by Indonesia: (clockwise from top right) Golden Indonesian Tempeh, made with a sweet soy sauce - brown sugar caramelizing glaze and a touch of spicy chile, Indonesian Vegetable Pickles, tangerine and star fruit, and Yellow Coconut Rice. The rice is garnished with a Chile Blossom (Have I mentioned that the new book includes an entire chapter on lunch box garnishes? Indeed it does!)

The vegetable pickles include lots of shallots, a member of the onion family which might not be familiar to all of us here in the West but is used extensively in Indonesia.

Link: Vegan Lunch Box Around the World.

Around the World: Hawaii

Here's another picture that didn't make it into the book, but I'll show it to you here! This is my Hawaiian Luau Lunch Box: (starting far left) Tropical Fruit Salad (mixed tropical fruit with coconut cream), Maui Onion Dip with sugar snap peas, Huli-Huli Tofu (grilled tofu with a Hawaiian-style barbecue sauce, and Aloha Sweet Potatoes (roasted sweet potato and yam topped with yummy toasted coconut).

Okay, so maybe the fabric is a bit busy, but I still had a lot of fun making and setting up this lunch box! You can have fun when you make it, too, by including a paper umbrella to garnish the fruit salad or wrapping your lunch box in a plastic lei.

Speaking of lunch boxes, this is another Lunchsense, size medium. The website says that this is the most popular size for grade school kids, and if you get it in this bright construction-worker orange, I'm sure your kids will never lose it!

Link: Vegan Lunch Box Around the World.

Peace of Mind: A Weather Radio

For a few months now, I've been participating in the Preparedness Challenge. For my birthday, my mom and dad gave me a weather radio at the suggestion of my sister.  It's wonderful!

The weather radio set and ready to receive alerts:

advisories, watches, and warnings.

My sister has a weather radio, and has called me when there have been some serious and dangerous weather headed towards the farm.

Most recently, she called as a tornado was spotted about ten miles from here. None of the outdoor sirens worked that day in the county/town, so unless you had a weather radio you  would not have known that the tornado was headed for the town. (It was a beautiful, sunny day - not at all typical of tornado weather).

The weather radio is a plug-in model with a battery back-up. In addition to being able to listen to the current conditions for one's area, the weather radio can be programmed with up to nine different counties.

I programmed seven of the counties to the northwest, west, and southwest since this is the direction from which the storms would come.

To listen to weather conditions at any time,

the "weather" button is pressed once.

So far, the weather radio has alerted us about severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, and windstorms in excess of 80 mph (enough to topple a tree). No tornado yet...but I'm quite content not seeing and hearing that alert on the weather radio!

Vegetable Dum Biryani

Vegetable Biryani is a versatile rice dish that goes well along with any type of curry. It is great for parties or for an elaborate weekend meal. I always make biryani the easy way as a one pot meal. I just dump the spices, rice and vegetables in the pressure cooker and cook it up. But this time I wanted to make it the regular way. I cooked the rice and the vegetables separately, layered the rice and vegetables and allowed the flavors to blend in the oven. It takes time and effort to make this biryani but truly worth the effort. I adapted the recipe from Anu's place.

You could use vegetables based on availability and preference. 

Ingredients
For the Rice
Basmati Rice - 2 cups
Onion - 1 medium sized
Tomatoes - 2 small ones
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tablespoon
Green chillies - 2 slit lengthwise
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Oil/Butter - 1 tablespoon

Whole Spices
Bay Leaves - 3 to 4 leaves
Cinnamon sticks - 2
Cloves - 4
Cardamom/Elaichi - 4
Cumin seeds/Jeera - 1 teaspoon
Star Anise - 2

Vegetables
Cauliflower florets - 1/2 cup
Carrots - 2
Green beans - 1/2 cup sliced lengthwise
Potatoes - 2 medium sized ones
Green peas - 1/2 cup

For the marinade
Curd/Yogurt - 1.5 to 2 cups
Red chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Cumin/Jeera powder - 1 teaspoon
Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
Kasoori methi leaves - 1/2 teaspoon (optional)
Salt to taste


Directions
Soak basmati rice for 30 minutes in water.

First, prepare the vegetables and marinade. Chop all the vegetables in equal sizes. To the yogurt, add all the spice powders and whisk well together.

 

Add a little water if required. Add the marinade to the vegetables. Cover and refrigerate. Allow the veggies to marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the rice. In a wide saucepan, add the oil or butter and add all the whole spices. Once the spices start giving out their aroma, add the soaked rice and give it a stir. Also add salt, chilli and turmeric powder, the required amount of water (water:rice ratio - 2:1), cover and cook until the water gets completely absorbed. Fluff the rice with the fork once it gets done.

To prepare the vegetables, in a saucepan, add a little oil. Add the onions and saute until they turn translucent. Add the ginger garlic paste and green chillies and fry for a minute. Add the tomatoes and saute them for a minute. Then add the marinated vegetables along with the yogurt. Cover and cook on low heat for about 15 to 20 minutes. take care to cook on low heat since the yogurt might curdle more and result in a sour mixture. Once the veggies get well cooked, switch off the heat.

 Now comes the assembling part. In a baking dish, add a layer of rice, almost half the rice followed by a layer of vegetables. Top off with the remaining rice and garnish with some cilantro.

Cover tightly with an aluminum foil and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes at 300F. Fluff the veggies and rice with a fork together before serving.

Serve warm with a simple raita, boiled eggs and chips. Makes a great weekend lunch!

Sending this to Bookmarked Recipes hosted by Priya.