the yogini cowgirl

vanilla-coconut cowboy cookies … for the yogini in us all

031512.  Have I mentioned that the Cottage used to be a vacation rental?

Before the LO and I invaded his space in Montana, the Cowboy would go off to work out of town and rent out the Cottage to visiting professors, directors for the local opera, ski-bunnies and boys … you name it.

It’s filled with memorabilia from his rodeo and cattle days.  There are Cowboy tchotchkes by the front door.  Boots in the foyer.  Well-worn silver stirrups on display on the TV cabinet.  Hats hanging on more than a few hooks in key locations around the house.  And photos, prints and paintings adorning most walls. 

Hence the name:  The Cowboy Cottage.

So that means there’s a treasure trove of Cowboy kitch in the most surprising corners of the house.

Like this wonderful little tin

…which just happens to include a cookie cook book and cuter than cute cookie cutters.

And that’s reason enough to get the LO and I into the kitchen.

Three times in the last week.

To make a yogini version of “cowboy cookies.”

See, we’re on the road to eliminating refined sugar from our cooking.

And now that we know that more than 70 percent of processed corn products contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms), we don’t use canola oil.

Plus, we avoid shortening because of the high level of hydrogenated fats.

And most of the recipes in this cute little book have ALL THREE ingredients.

So after more than a few adjustments, we’re really happy with our very own version of a Vanilla-Coconut Cowboy Cookie.

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 tbls coconut oil
• 1/8^th  tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbls buttermmilk
• ½ c coconut palm sugar
• 1 egg
• about 1 ½ - 2 cups unbleached organic flour 

First thing to do is preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium-big bowl, blend the coconut oil, salt, buttermilk, vanilla and coconut palm sugar with a spoon until creamy.

 

Beat the egg.

Mix in the well beaten egg.

Then add the flour ½ cup at a time to make a smooth medium-soft dough.

Roll it out on a well-floured surface.

Cut with your cutest cowboy cookie cutters (or whatever shape moves your inner yogini).

Bake on a greased cookie sheet (We use a grape seed coking spray) for 10-14 minutes.  They “firm up” after a few minutes out of the oven. 

NOTE:  These aren’t super sweet.  But with a cup of yogi tea?  AWESOME. If you want a sweeter treat, you could always ice them.  Maybe we’ll do that next time.  Hmmmm ... yeah. That's a fun idea. 

Sat Nam,

YC

 P.S.  Today's post appears on thenourishinggourmet.com's Pennywise Platter Thursday!

a bi-weekly cook-off ... of sorts

031412.  Stracciatella soup.  Sopa de ajo.  Eggplant involtini.  Cauliflower risotto.  Sourdough pancakes.  Asiago and olive bread.  Refried bean tacos.  Avocado salad.  Apple sharlotka.  Shakshuka over homemade polenta.  Sourdough pizza with 5-minute cherry tomato sauce.

All from scratch.

All from our kitchen.

All in the last eight weeks.

And that’s only to name a few.

You see, the Cowboy and I started a new project.

We have all these cookbooks.

And some of them are amazing.

Like John Besh’s Our Family Table.

And Diana Kennedy’s The Essential Cuisines of Mexico.

And the thing is … with the ease of the internet for recipes … we hardly use them.

Which is crazy.

So we decided early this year that two days a week we’d take recipes from these great books and give them a test run.

Exactly as they appear in the books.

Because we both have a tendency to “tweak” recipes even before we try them.

Some of them have been wildly successful.

Like the Sopa de Ajo from Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson.

Which has worked its way into our biweekly rotation … any time we have enough leftover bread.

Others needed tweaking for our taste buds …  like the Eggplant involtini, also from Tartine Bread.  It just had too much “lemon” for me.  And I didn’t love the pan-fried eggplant.  Next time, I’ll just use lemon zest and bake the eggplant instead of fry it.  And I might use fewer breadcrumbs.  And maybe add some cooked quinoa into the stuffing.  So much fun to be had!

So now I’m going to start documenting some of these culinary experiments … especially if it gives me an excuse to watch the Cowboy and the LO do magic together.

Sat Nam,

YC

 

 

by the way ...

082011b. ... I did make those Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes.

It was Monday.

My superMom had just left for New Jersey.

And the LO and I needed a pick-me-up because at least one of us was sad.

But instead of strawberries (which, unless they are organic, are one of the most pesticide-ridden fruits available these days and I couldn’t find organic ones in the market), I used fresh-picked raspberries from last Saturday’s sojourn to Rocky Creek Farm with the LO and the superRents.

… And unsweetened chocolate (because that’s what I had in the cupboard)

… and frozen unsalted butter (because I didn’t have enough salted butter in the fridge or freezer … which was very surprising)

… and I added a touch more salt (because of the unsalted butter-thing).

Seriously.

Staggering.

And I think taking the butter straight from the freezer was exACtly the right thing to do as it made the shortcakes flakey and moist and luscious even without the Chantilly cream and berries.

And I’ve been thinking about making some sort of peanut butter (or almond or hazelnut butter) cream to make a short of chocolatey-nut-buttery-tasty fall-tasting dessert for when fresh berries are hard to come by because I don’t want to go too long without having these treats in my life again.

One thing, though … I realized I just might not be cut out to be a food-stylist-photographer.

And if I could get the photos to download from my dying camera, I would post one to prove it.

Sat Nam,

YC

 

just another simple dreamsically Saturday?

082011.  The visit from my superParents was interrupted last week when my grandmother (who happens to be 91 and 1/2 years old) had a heart attack on Sunday and the superMom had to rush home to New Jersey to be with her.

And Gram … the original superDuperMom … is finally stable, finally out of ICU, and … after a roller-coaster week … it finally seems the doctors are figuring out a good plan of action for her care.

The superStepDad’s been quite the trooper … hanging out in the Cottage with me and the LO … house-hunting (we are still hopeful about our Dream House, but our realtor recommended we look at a few more places … which we did … and which just don’t compare, but good to have seen them) … and golfing it up at the Cottonwood Course just outside of town.  He even put up with a pizza-party-movie-night for 2-year-olds.  Have I mentioned that the SSD is a good guy?

And on top of it all, the LO had her 2^nd ballet lesson … which went way better than her first (maybe I'll tell you about it one day ... but it was pretty traumatic) … and she made huge strides in our potty-training efforts (while giving me new ideas about how to help her along in the process).

So it’s been a week.

And I’m very thankful that another simple Saturday is upon us.

Not only am I thankful that it’s a weekend during which we have very few plans … but it also happens to be the Cowboy’s birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COWBOY!!!

And even though he’s not here, we’re going to celebrate that he’s in our lives by preparing for his arrival (counting down … he’ll be home in 2 days time for visit … a short visit … but a visit, nonetheless!).

We have presents to make.

A party to plan (If you're in town, you're invited).

And cupcakes to bake.

You see … the Cowboy LOVE LOVE LOVES Dreamsicle cakes.

They remind him of his childhood.

And they make him happy.

And based on some of my online searching, are some of the most unhealthy and “fake” cakes in the world (most of the recipes I’ve seen call for orange jello and boxed orange cake mix …which sort of takes the fun out of baking for me).

So I’ve got some work to do this simple Saturday.

I’ve got to figure out a version of the cake that I’m not afraid to give to the LO and her friends … and one that still satisfies that craving for sense-memory.

So this is where I’m starting …

 

 

which is a recipe adapted from this one …

which was adapted from a combo of Martha Stewart’s CUPCAKES book and one from this blog …

Wish me luck … and if you have room in your prayers, please remember my Gram … she needs them, and my mom and her sisters need them, and I'd appreciate them.

Sat Nam,

YC

 

 

simply grateful on a simple Saturday ... during which there is a full moon

081311.  Because I get these updates once a month and you might not, here’s the full moon forecast from Powerpath and the School of Shamanism:

“The full moon is Saturday, August 13 at 12:58 PM Mountain Daylight Time. This is a day for gratitude, gratitude and more gratitude. This may be challenging if you are in a place of being challenged. Trust that gratitude is the best antidote for feeling small, limited, insignificant and irritated. There are heavy influences now that are bringing out aggressive behaviors and reactionary activity in others. You yourself may be feeling a bit off and not know why. Don't take anything personally and spend some time in awareness exercises and being present. Make yourself energetically available to something wonderful landing in your lap without planning, effort or obsession. In this way you move your attention away from what might be wrong and towards what you are creating that is right. And stay away from those who do not support you.”

Click HERE for more info.

And so I take an opportunity to be grateful.

Grateful for the life the Cowboy and I are building for the LO and the OLO here in the Big Sky State... even if it means we have to be apart more right now that either one of us wants.

Grateful that the SuperRents (superMom and superStepDad) are visiting and spent their week helping me get the Cottage in fighting shape.  The cleaning, de-cluttering and photos are done as it goes on the market this weekend.  And I’m grateful for that!

I’m grateful that during another sleep-free night, I discovered it’s raspberry picking time at the local Rocky Creek Farm.  (It started 9 days ago, so in addition to being grateful, I’m also going to be hopeful there are still a few berries left to pick!) 

In keeping with my newly established simple Saturday theme, this morning I’m going to convince the SM and SSD to join the LO and I for a berry-picking-adventure (just $4/lb!) ... the LO likes berries. 

(photo taken EXACTLY one year and 10 days ago ... after an encounter with a bowl of mulberries ... which means it's mulberry season in Los Angeles ... so if you're in LA ... look for them at the farmer's market.  There is no better berry!) 

I’m grateful for so many things these days … family, old friends, new friends, health, happiness, horses, yoga, meditation, books (even in the age of the kindle), bikes, baths.

And I’m super thankful that my heart is open to new people and new experiences.  May it always be so.

 

the harsh reality about an honest truth ...

081211.  The following poem was silk-screened onto a piece of muslin covered with pink and blue happy faces and hung on the closet wall of the room I shared with my sisters from the time I was about 2 until I left for college:

Begin the day with friendliness,

Keep friendly all day long,

Keep in your soul a friendly thought -

In your heart a friendly song,

Have in your mind a word of cheer,

For all who come your way,

And they will greet you too, in turn -

And wish you a happy day. - Anonymous

Isn't it great?

It was a gift from one of the nuns at St. Mary's.

I loved this canvas.

I loved this poem.

I started every day with this poem.

But I don't have the canvas any more.  

I did have it.  

Until about 10 years ago.  

When it was "appropriated" from a box of my treasures by my First Sergeant Sis. 

 And until yesterday, I was a little more than peeved that she had taken it.

But the SuperMom is visiting to help me prepare the Cottage for a new occupant, and the subject came up.

Me:  You know that canvas with the poem on it … with the happy faces and that poem ... You know ... the one about being friendly and having a friendly attitude and all that?

SM:  You mean the one Sister Josephine gave to your sister?

Me:  ????!!!!!???

SM:  What?

Me:  ????!!!!!???

SM:  Not the answer you wanted?

Me:  Hmph.

Regardless of who owns it … it’s a good poem. 

I learned to read with that poem. 

And its lesson informed a lot of who I am and how I wake up and face each day.

So … Thanks, Sister Josephine, for liking my FSS better than me.

 

advice I'm trying to follow ...

072011.  Once again, Leo's tapped into my current headspace.

It's weird. 

It's like once every few weeks he burrows into my brain for a topic and comes out with the one that's bubbling to the surface, but not quite there yet!

And if Leo's writing about it ... and I'm thinking about it ... I can only imagine that someone else out there might be looking for this info too.  

His advice seems simple.  If you want to make a living doing something you're passionate about ... just do ONE THING ... really well.  Not four things.  Not five things.  ONE THING.  Which seems too easy.  But his article is more interesting than that.  So, if this thought's been niggling in the crevices of your brain of late, I'm going to encourage you to click the link beyond his preface.

Here's a link to Leo Babauta's latest post:

breathe. | zen habits

        Doing One Thing Well

I’m often asked how you can start doing work you love — how you can make a living doing something you’re passionate about.

I don’t profess to have all the answers, but the answer for me has been fairly simple:

Do one thing really well.

People want a more comprehensive answer than that, but in my experience, if you learn to do this, the rest will follow.

via zenhabits.net

simple saturday ...

071611. I'm going to try something new ... 

As many of you know, I'm in the process of decluttering and simplifying (as so many people are). Everything from the food I eat, to the clothes I wear.  The money I spend.  And the life I lead.

So in between runs to the Good Will and sifting through closets, I spend some time looking for ideas about how to accomplish some of these goals.  And I'm going to use a tiny piece of Saturday to share some of these ideas with you.

This week, it's a link to another zenhabits.net post ... because Leo's got some great ideas that are easy to incorporate into real life.  

I've already started the toy bins.  And since it's just me and the LO these days, I already only have one calendar that I'll keep up when the new baby arrives.  I always bring snacks. But I do NOT always have a change of clothes on hand ... and it's been a thing.  So ... this week I add (even though the goal is to subtract) a change of clothes to the diaper bag.

Enjoy the link ... hope there's something there for you, too.

25 Ways to Simplify Your Life with Kids | zen habits

Anyone who has kids knows that any life with kids is going to be complicated, at least to some degree. From extra laundry to bathing and cooking and shopping and driving and school and chores and crises and sports and dance and toys and tantrums, there is no shortage of complications.

via zenhabits.net

I’m a morning person ...

062811.  I used to think I was a night person.

But now when I think about it … I used to like to stay up all night so I could see the sunrise.

Because by “morning person,” I mean I like to wake up before the sun rises so I can see the first golden rays peak over the horizon. 

I like the quiet. 

I like the solitude. 

I like that very few people are up at this hour (including the LO … who has not yet shown herself to be a morning person).

And it reminds me of the possibilities the day might bring.

 

 

I think I say this every time I find myself here ...

061511.   I love LA.

I love the sun.

I love the beach.

I love the canyons and the hiking.

I love Intelligentsia Coffee.

And now I have a new reason to love Los Angeles.

Actually, my new love is in Santa Monica.

Which is unusual for me since I was such an East Side Gal when I lived here, rarely venturing west of Fairfax except to go to my office.

But when I got here two weeks ago, the Cowboy took me shopping (yay!) because … well … I’ve never been pregnant in the summer.  And I had that visit to the Institutes coming up … and none of my clothes fit me except my really low-cut jeans, which thankfully still fit below the bump that is way more surprising this second time around.

Now I know I made this bargain with myself to simplify and reduce the clutter in my closet.  I know I made this commitment to eliminate one old thing every time I bring a new thing into the house … but in my defense ... I'm doing my best to buy clothes that were made locally and sold in stores that are owned locally ... and I’m making an exception here because I would rather not embarrass my mother by walking around in clothes that don’t fit. (I'm guessing the SuperMom isn't going to be psyched I'm using her as my excuse :)

So we found ourselves on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica and wound up at a place called 2chix maternity and baby boutique. (Is it just an irony that I can’t seem to escape Montana now that I count it my home?) 

It’s fantastic.

And fashion forward without being "trendy."

High quality.

And the best news:  despite it’s pricey locale, it’s not over-priced (especially the sale rack).

Oh … and they have an online shop where I plan to purchase their 40-week skirt

(I don't think I can pull off the bare bump, but the skirt is so fabulous, I might just try ... hahaha)

... which was out of stock when I visited the store.

 

Q:  Have you discovered any new locally-owned shops lately that deserve a little online plug?

 

I used to wear cute shoes ...

041211.  In fact, you might recall that I was on the verge of developing a bit of a shoe fetish.  Okay, well … I wanted a shoe fetish.  I mean … I wore cute sneakers.  And the occasional cute slip-ons.  And heels.

And then I gave up my high-powered job as a movie producer.

Committed to my yoga practice.

Moved to Montana.

And ran right smack into Winter in the Rocky Mountains.

Yesterday was warmer than it’s been since last October (a balmy 55 degrees.)

And sunny.

And gorgeous.

And I realized something.

Not only do I no longer have a shoe fetish, but I’ve been wearing the same four pair of shoes for seven months, and I hardly even noticed it!

Not that Dansko clogs aren’t charming (they seem to be part of the mom uniform here in Bozeman).

Or that I don’t love my rain boots.

It’s not that I don’t appreciate the warmth of my North Face snow boots … or the coziness of my well-worn Uggs.

It’s just been a while since I’ve been able to slip on a pair of cute flats or pumps or sneakers or peep-toe heels …

I’m not even sure I could find them in our storage unit.

Can you say Macy’s?

 

Q: What shoes are making it out of YOUR closet these days?

 

one totally disconnected day ... aahhh

031511. Back in my old life I was tethered to my phone (it was a blackberry at the time). And there was rarely a moment when I wasn’t checking it, reading it, talking on it, scrolling through it, blah blah blah.

And I’m going to admit that giving up that habit has been a bit of a struggle. Even in my newfound maternally yogic life.

True. I get about 1/1000th the number of messages.

And true. Most of those messages are spam.

Okay … maybe not spam … but they’re news updates from the NY Times and Huffington Post and Facebook and you know … from other stuff (like sale info from JCrew and Old Navy). And even though I’m not living in Los Angeles, I like streaming KPCC (the best NPR station in the country) so I can be up-to-date on what’s happening in the world. Plus, I like having the iPhone handy in case there’s a good picture to take. You never know when there will be a once-in-a-lifetime-photo-op.

Or you know … if there’s no pen and paper handy, it’s a great place to write notes. And then there’s the calendar. Which may no longer be filled with studio meetings and dinners with directors, but sometimes I forget when the LO’s gymnastics class starts (is it 10:15 or 10:30?).

Anyway … that’s a long way around getting to the fact that I think I have a problem. And I’m pretty sure the LO agrees. Because yesterday she took my phone and hid it. Really well.

Full disclosure here, the iPhone has some really good apps for kids like memory games and classical music apps, etc. It’s a pretty good distraction to give the LO my phone if I want 10 minutes to take a shower or do the dishes, etc. 

So yesterday, at around 9 am, I handed her the phone and went to take a shower. When I got out, there was no phone.

Anywhere.

In.

The.

House.

And I looked everywhere. It wasn’t under the sofa. Or the coffee table. It wasn’t in the garbage (in the kitchen OR in the laundry room OR in the bathroom). Or under a cover in our bedroom. It wasn’t in the toilet. It wasn’t in any of the drawers or low cupboards in the kitchen. It wasn’t in the fridge. Nor was it in a shoe.

It was gone.

Gone gone.

So after about 30 minutes of searching and re-searching the house I decided to let it go and we left the house to take the dogs to the horses and get some exercise ourselves.

There was a weird silence in the car (except for the 2 dogs, small child and the radio).

There was a calm (except for the panic that if something happened I wouldn’t be able to call for help like that time I ended up in the ditch).

And there was a peace (no exception).

Peace in knowing that the only thing that needed to be on my mind was what was happening right at that moment right in front of me.

It was kind of great to know that know one would be calling. There were no messages to check. There was no clock ticking the time away.

So at around 6 last night, when I went to put a load of clothes in the washing machine, you can imagine my surprise that the phone was hidden in the middle of the hamper. She really had to dig to get it so deep in the pile. And I wasn’t nearly as relieved as I thought I’d be.

Sure, I’m glad I don’t have to shell out for another phone. And yes, I’m happy to know I haven’t lost all the photos I hadn’t yet downloaded off of it.

But it made me re-recognize the importance of the Digital Sabbatical. And it made me think that maybe I should lose my phone more often.  I might even lose it today.

Q: What happens when you disconnect?

I'm stuck, and I'd love your advice ...

031411.  I think I’ve mentioned that I’m looking for ways to simplify my life and the stuff that’s in it.  I’ve made this commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle.  I’ve honestly been able to get rid of two pieces of clothing for every new one I bring into the house.  (It’s entirely possible the guy at the Salvation Army recognizes my car now as I pull up, and sends someone else out to help me unload.)  And I’m doing my best not to hoard books by giving them away when I’m done reading them.

Speaking of which (although a bit of a non sequitur) … anyone interested in Neil Gaiman’s AMERICAN GODS? 

Who doesn’t love a little gothic fantasy mystery?  So good. EMAIL ME and I’ll send it your way.

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway … back to my current dilemma.

I’m using Elaine St. James’ SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE as a primary tool for this de-cluttering effort.  And the place where I’m stuck is this:  Elaine says I need to consolidate my food shopping and errand running to one place (or at least one area) so I don’t have to make multiple trips and can use my time more productively for other things I like/have to do.  And it’s really good advice.  BUT …

The best bulk organic food comes from the Co-op (on 9^th).

The best tortillas are at Town & Country (the one on 11^th … not sure about the one on 19^th).

The least expensive organic apple sauce is at Albertson’s (on 23^rd).

The best produce seems to be at Heebs (across town … on Main and Wallace, I believe).

And the only place that seems to carry diaper genie inserts is Target (North on 19^th, about 5 miles away from anything).

Oh … and then there’s Costco for all things paper and bulk (which is in the same complex as Target).

I understand the thinking:

If you go to only one place, you don't have to spend time driving all around town for this and that ... and you only have contend with impulse buying at one place. For example, did I need the chocolate brownie I picked up at the Co-op bakery two days ago?  Or what about the beanie babie bunnie the LO found at Albertson’s yesterday?  

So you save time and money by limiting your efforts to one store.

Which basically means I'm stuck. 

I could give up the tortillas to avoid the skinny cow ice cream sandwiches.

I could spend a little more on the apple sauce to avoid the beanie babies.

I guess, if push came to shove, I could figure out an alternative to the diaper genie.

Arghhhh …

 

Q: What’s YOUR advice?  I’d love some suggestions.