Spelt: a granola-ish grain

spelt udon

zucchini spelt mini loaf

Spelt biscotti

You might have noticed spelt in a health food blog, or the grocery store lately, but have you tried it yet?
Spelt is an ancient cousin of wheat with origins in Southeast Asia. Its recent rise in popularity is good news for wheat and gluten avoiders, because although it does contain gluten, most with gluten sensitivities can tolerate it. Also, spelt is not normally treated with pesticides or chemicals because it grows a thick husk that protects the berry from pollutants and insects.
It's a little pricier than buying wheat flour, but totally worth it. If you want to try it out at home, here are a few of my favorite substitutions and recipes (after the jump).

May Day

Yay! May is here. As I mentioned, it's always a busy month for me, but it's also my favorite. Here is a list of some great things to do and ways to celebrate in May...

1. Eat more berries. Strawberry season in California has already begun. Blueberry, blackberry, and boysenberry season starts around May 15th. Berries are full of phytochemicals and antioxidants, and are especially delicious when they come from local organic sources. So eat up while you can!

2. Be nice to your Mom, and take her to Flora Grubb. This is one of my favorite places to spend a weekday morning in the city. It is the most stunning nursery/store I have ever been to, and they have a Ritual Coffee bar inside. Two weeks ago, Nick and I went to a Saturday morning talk about edible plants that grow well in the bay area. On Mother's Day, they are having a talk about "slow flower". Go here for more information. So buy your mom a cup of coffee, and enjoy their fancy patio furniture together. If your Ma doesn't live near by, no worries. It's great place to buy her a gift. They will even ship some of their plants right to her door.

3. Treat yourself to some Harvey Milk and Honey ice cream at Humphry Slocombe in honor of Harvey Milk's Birthday and the Milk Club's anniversary.

4. Join Lisa's 2nd-Hand Pledge! She is only buying second hand clothing from May 1st to October 1st, and she's asking YOU to join her!

5. Celebrate the Golden Gate Bridge's 75th Birthday! Watch the firework display over the bridge on May 27th, or paint your nails International Orange as a tribute.

Granola Gifts

Can you believe there are only a few days of April left? May is always a busy month for me with lots to celebrate: school always gets crazier, there is Mother's day, lots of birthdays (including mine), and there always seems to be a shower to two to attend. If your May is anything like mine, you'll probably be shopping for some gifts. So, in an attempt to make life easier, I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite finds. All of these gifts are earth friendly, a few of them are small-business made, and a couple support some really great causes. Happy shopping. -xo

1,2,3,4,5,6

Sour + Bitter

Sour and Bitter. These can be two dirty words when it comes to describing our food and drinks. It's really too bad because they are both important tastes in a well balanced diet, and they are definitely under consumed in a "typical American" diet. These two flavors are considered to have yin, cooling effects in the body that can balance a diet that is full of roasted, baked, grilled, and spicy foods. Sour foods have an astringent quality that can be beneficial to the body and the mind (it is thought to counter act scattered mental patterns). Bitter foods are cleansing, and can counter over-consumption of rich foods.

Here is a list of some of my favorite sour and bitter foods. If you think your diet is lacking these flavors, try adding a few of them into your weekly meals.

Bitter

arugula

rye

asparagus

quinoa

celery

chamomile

dandelion root tea

Sour

sourdough bread

olive

lemon

lime

sauerkraut

pickled foods

aduki beans

some cheeses

raspberries

tangerines

yogurt

Vinegar is both sour and bitter, and very versatile in the kitchen. I probably have seven different types of vinegar in my kitchen at any given time. It can be used to create depth to a dish, or most commonly, to make salad dressings, dips, and marinades. 

Today, I used the most common vinegar found in most any home, distilled white, to make pickled carrots. I love adding pickled veggies to salads, or alongside sandwiches, and they are great for a snack. Best of all, you can get very creative with pickling because just about any vegetable can be pickled with most any herb or spice. Pickled carrots, red onions, jalapenos, and beets are some of my favorites. I kept these pickled carrots pretty basic by just adding red pepper flakes and whole peppercorns to the brine. 

Also to note: 

Pickles are beneficial for aiding digestion after meals. Properly fermented pickles like sauerkraut and kimchi are a good source of the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus. However, eat within reason, over-consuming pickled foods can have harmful effects as well. 

Source: Pitchford, Paul. Healing with Whole Foods. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books, 2003

Life lately...according to Instagram

I've had a great time visiting friends and family these last few weeks. We threw a bridal shower for my friend Tess, I spent a lot of time playing with my niece and nephew, went on a few hikes, and last weekend we went to a beautiful wedding. Life has been good, and I am truly grateful.