September 11 is just around the corner.  I don't normally like to get political, but I find this video very interesting.  Watch it if you have time.  The world isn't perfect, and my comfort zone tends to be very small, but I love thinking that everyone in the world just wants the same thing:  to live their lives according to their beliefs and in peace.  Many Muslims I have met have been excellent human beings, and understanding other countries, peoples and views is essential to peace and democracy.  Do I challege some of their findings?  Yes, but I also find them excellent.  We can all benefit from better understanding of the human race.

Watch more free documentaries

Less is more...but sometimes it's not.

My friends are going on a road trip this weekend. You know, without me.  Being short on funds, finding food on a road trip might be a tad difficult.  Baking to the rescue.  Sometimes baking can be healthy...or at least a [somewhat] nutritious replacement for food.

Enter oatmeal cookies.  Well not JUST oatmeal.

Oatmeal-Raisin-Currant-Sesame Cookies.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/oatmeal-raisin-cookies-i/detail.aspx  + Replace half the raisins with dried currants.  Add sesame to your personal taste.  I just shook in the seeds, but you'll need at least a tablespoon.  Sesame seeds, while high in fat, also add fiber, small amounts of calcium and totally delicious flavor to your cookies.  I found that making one inch round balls and no bigger produced a bite-sized cookie with a crisp bottom perfect for snacking.  Ms. T might call this "portion control".

Blackberry Recipes for Indian Summer

Its a well-known secret that in August in Oregon, blackberries grow everywhere.  You can pay to U-pick them at a farm (along with blueberries and raspberries), but lots of people know a place where they grow wild.  Indeed I have my own secret spot; an almost unlimited supply of them during the month of August. And if you don't mind tearing your clothes and getting minor flesh wounds from thorn poke-age, you should look yourself!  No, I won't tell you where.  Not a chance.

So given pounds and pounds of blackberries, what would YOU make?

Cobbler:  For my cobbler, I used an old standard, Betty Crocker.  Its like a batter+fruit.  I found out I don't really like cobbler, but my husband liked it.  He's not really hard to please.

Pie:  Yesterday I made a pie.  I used this one.  I added peaches as well.  Do take the advice of the reviewer who added lemon juice, it adds much needed tartness to the pie.

Crisp:  This is still in the works, though I have to admit that its a much healthier dessert than pie.  Using rolled oats and 1/3 the butter, its a great alternative for those on a diet.  Updates later on the taste.

Don't have a blackberry patch?  Substitute frozen.  While I probably wouldn't eat frozen blackberries raw, when they are cooked there isn't really a noticeable difference...

Kawaii Meringues.

It's easy to make tiny meringues!

2 egg whites
3/4 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp cream of tartar (this one is pretty optional, I still think it would work without)
pinch salt.


Preheat oven to 280 degrees F.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.


Beat egg whites until foamy and gradually add sugar.  Add vanilla, cinnamon, salt, cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form.  This process might take about 15 minutes or more, depending on your mixer

Using a small spoon or an icing bag + tip (preferable), make cookies 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter.  Smaller cookies become crunchier, while larger cookies remain chewy in the middle.  Leave a little bit of space between each one, they puff up slightly while baking.

Bake 20 minutes or until cookies slide off of the parchment easily.  They may crack a bit, this is normal.

Become addicted.

Annual Rose Garden Trip

I know I did this last year, but I really really love visiting the rose garden here in Portland.  This year, since we've been having a milder summer (a.k.a. a complete dud!), different flowers were blooming than last.  Some weren't blooming at all; this was the case with my favorite, Rouge Royale.

"Black Jade"

"Carding Mill"

"Lady of Shalott"

"Reba McEntire"

 White Clematis

"Shockwave"

"Shockwave"

Bzzzz... "Monkey Business"

"First Prize"

"Molineux"

"Si" Micro Mini

"Carding Mill" - Probably my favorite of this year.

Midnight snack II...

Attention science geeks, stoners, pregnant women, and Portal fans:  Holy shit, you can make cake in a mug.  In minutes.  Yes you can.  No, really, you can.

How does it taste?  We liked it.  Not as good as regular cake, kinda spongy, chocolatey.  I admit it would probably be 100 times better with chocolate chips, as the recipe suggests.  Some reviewers say there is too much cocoa; this may be true as it was quite strong.  Don't try to cut out any sugar, it won't taste right.  And don't burn your tongue, it's pretty hot.

Midnight snack...

What the hell is it?

It's a Jicama, or a "Mexican Turnip".  This one is peeled, normally they look like this.  I doubt you have to actually peel them, but the sticker on mine suggested it.  Don't grab your vegetable peeler, though.  If you can get it started (say, near the stem?) the peel comes of by itself quite easily.  Alternatively, I have seen them in vegetable trays but this isn't very common.

What do I do with it?

My favorite way to eat them is raw with dip.  There are recipes, but I have been trying to incorporate more fresh, raw fruits and vegetables in my diet, and I feel very good.  Nutritional value?  Mostly carbs, fiber and water.  They are chock full of inulin(a kind of fiber), and are extremely filling.  Essentially they are a tasty vehicle for getting your favorite dressing from the bottle to your mouth, while sneaking 6 grams of fiber inside of you with you barely noticing.

How's it taste?

Crisp. Starchy. Wet.  If you like raw carrots or cut up sweet potatoes, you'll like this.  Its really crispy and satisfyingly fun to eat.