Haven't been able to take many photos lately. In the last couple of weeks, we've been prepping for a few catering gigs as well as the start of the Smorg season which was this past weekend. We sold out both days by 3pm and Neil's back to prepping for this week's catering event and next week's market. Rachael Ray Magazine also did a piece in their issue this month on the 2012 Vendy Awards winners and featured Neil's recipe. Our first mag feature-- too bad there's no picture of Neil!!

Yarrow Salve

Made some salves and lip balm this afternoon. I have a lot of herbs still from last year and want to try and finish them. For this one, I infused yarrow in olive oil for a couple of hours and then mixed in coconut oil and some beeswax.

My grandmother made this blanket for us when we were just a few years old. It's still my favorite thing in the world. And apparently, my cat Charlie loves it just as much as I do!

Summer on My Mind

Fresh coconut drink, Neil's crab cakes with yuzu creme fraiche, and my banana bread with cardamom cream.We've been busy cooking and baking, trying to come up with recipes for our business as well as for our own meals. Spent most of Sunday in the kitchen and then watched half of the first season of House of Cards on Netflix. Now going back to my nursing job, have a good week!

Bring It On Home

Home finally. Neil's delicious dinner. My adorable kitties. Sam Cooke on Pandora. Early work day tomorrow. Goodnight!

Chickweed

Stellaria media can be found anywhere in the world where there is moist soil. It can be invasive and is in fact a common weed in gardens, yards, and parks. For that reason, I'm not sure if I would purposely plant and grow it (if I had a backyard of my own), but I also wouldn't pick it off the ground at Central Park, which is probably heavily sprayed and fertilized, to eat for a snack (like I have done before). So I was super excited to find it at the Garden of Eve Farm stand at McCarren Park Greenmarket yesterday.

Many plants that we consider to be weeds often have culinary, nutritive, or medicinal value-- dandelion greens, nettles, purslane, sorrel. Think about how weeds have adapted to withstand almost any environmental condition, absorbing and taking in the good as well as the bad around them and arising stronger in the end. Their actions work similarly in our bodies.

According to my Medicinal Herbs book by Rosemary Gladstar, chickweed is highly esteemed for its emollient, demulcent healing properties and is a major herb for addressing skin irritation, eye inflammation, and kidney and liver disorders. It is most commonly used in healing salves in which the herb is dried, infused in oil, then mixed with some beeswax and used to soothe irritated, dry skin and rashes. I think I will try making that one of these days. Meanwhile, since it doesn't dry or store well, we are eating it fresh and using it in our salads. It's full of vitamins, calcium, potassium, and other good stuff. Today, Neil made pineapple tofu (chicken for him) pasta salad with celery, shallots, and chickweed.

 

Quick Photoshoot

Borrowed my co-worker's lens and trying to take some photos for Lumpia Shack. We have a couple of months before we're up and running again, but I know that time is going to fly by. I'm enjoying my weekends off while I still have them!

Berry Buckle

Every Monday during my lunch break I walk to the Union Square Greenmarket. One of the vendors I frequent is Bread Alone and lately I've been buying their seasonal fruit buckle to munch on after my lunch. I've actually never had buckle before but it's pretty much a variation of a cake or cobbler. I decided to make my own with local cranberries and blueberries I froze from summer. I also used whole wheat pastry flour instead. I made it 3 times before I think I got it right. The last one I made is more like a cake since I didn't add the buttery crumble on top. It's really good. 

Huayna Picchu

Our second day at Machu Picchu we hiked the great mountain of Huayna Picchu, climbing up to around 8000 feet above sea level to reach the summit that overlooks the lost city of the Incas. It was scary at times as I could have easily fallen off the edge to my death at any given moment-- so it took me longer than the estimated 1 hour to ascend. The views from the top and along the way, however, were breathtaking and I could understand how so many people (400 maximum allowed every day) venture up and down the mountain despite fear of bodily injury and death!

Machu Picchu

 So here's the main reason we all came to Peru. To see the beautiful and well-preserved remains of the Inca empire. They created an intricate civilization along the slope of a mountainside! Our guide tried to convey to us just how brilliant the Incas were-- use of natural, raw material, precisely constructed walls and buildings, and brilliant architecture (complete with water distribution systems and built to withstand earthquakes) which supported a highly cultivated urban population and agricultural system. At the end of our walking tour, we climbed up to the House of the Guardians  where we had a gorgeous view of a rainbow. 

Cusco

On the second day of our trip, we flew to Cusco, known to the Incas as the "naval of the world". Millions of tourists flock to this beautiful city, as it is also the gateway to the famous Machu Picchu. The above photo was taken near the Plaza de Armas of a church built after the Spanish conquest. Cusco is over 11,000 feet above sea level and I was definitely feeling the altitude. The walk to lunch was quite difficult for me, even though the restaurant was only a short distance away from where we were staying. Nevertheless, we still toured the Incan ruins of Písac in the afternoon, guided by the nicest person I think I have ever met. Nevermind that he only spoke to us in Spanish! Wilson, who also speaks Quechua,  drove us around the Sacred Valley and guided us through the remains. I can't believe that my sister and I got by on this entire trip on our high school Spanish! 

Above is an herb called muña, which Wilson said among other uses, could also help with altitude sickness. Looking it up afterwards, it is part of the mint family and is most often used for its carminative properties. 

We also stopped by an animal sanctuary on our way to the ruins where we saw llamas, alpacas, condors, pumas, and parrots (which were featherless-- so sad). Many of the animals had suffered a lot of trauma (used for entertainment or for material for jewelry/accessories). Part of how they are able to care for the animals is funded by the arts and crafts of the Andean people in the region, who use the wool of alpacas to make fibers and textiles. They showed us how they use natural material for their dyes.

Anyhow, I was a little worried about choosing Peru as our travel destination after being in Lima. But Cusco and Písac were so beautiful-- pictures can only convey so much-- and despite our fears of walking around wheeling oxygen tanks, it turned out to be a perfect day (how often can one say that??) Now I think I left my heart there and can only hope I will be able to walk through those paths sometime again in my life.

This will probably be my last post of 2012. Best wishes to you all for a very happy new year!