Avacado Sandwich with Green Harissa . Sprouted Kitchen

"For whatever it's worth: It's never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you're proud of, and if you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start over."

- Eric Roth, Benjamin Button (a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

I've been writing emails with one of my longest-time friends about the hamster wheel of worry and fear and how it can hold us in its grip. Her being a new mom, myself about to be one, and the fresh batch of angst that comes along with a little life dependent on you and doing things "right."

I love this quote, T, made me think of you. May we be women of confidence and faith - that we fearlessly enjoy the ride relieved we don't control the universe. xo

AVOCADO SANDWICH WITH GREEN HARISSA // Makes 2

Green Harissa recipe adapted from Ashley Rodriguez for Food + Wine

Hugh isn't huge into mint, so while Ashley calls for 1 cup each mint and cilantro, I cut the mint yield with half parsley and it worked great. Not too minty while still offering some of it's fresh flavor. Seed the jalepenos depending on your heat tolerance - I took out about half the seeds and thought this had the perfect amount of spice. Click on the link for her original recipe where she tosses it with noodles, shrimp and feta. Sounds great.

I went for a straight harissa spread, while we mixed Hugh's with 2:1 harissa to organic mayo ratio and it was delicious. Possibly preferred. If you are one for high-quality mayo, creamy greek yogurt or even a dairy-free cream cheese, the harissa is perfect for a sammy when it has this creamy factor going on as well. Add roasted chicken, quick seared tofu, a fried egg...really you could expand from here a million ways.

/green harissa/
1 clove garlic
1 cup cilantro
1/2 cup mint leaves
1/2 cup parsley
2 jalepenos, stemmed and seeded to your heat preference
juice of one lemon
1/2 tsp. each cumin, ground fennel seed, sea salt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 whole grain rolls or 4 pieces bread of choice
1 large, ripe avocado
2 leaves romaine lettuce
1 small bulb fennel, sliced super thin

In a food processor, add the garlic, cilantro, mint, parsley, jalepenos, lemon juice, cumin, fennel, salt and pulse to combine. With the motor going, drizzle in the olive oil until blended but still a little rough. Transfer to a container and set aside.

Toast your bread. Mash up the avocado with a pinch of salt. Spread a few spoonfuls of harissa on one side of the bread and mash half the avocado into the other side of the bread. Layer a piece of romaine and a handful of thin sliced fennel and close up your sammy to enjoy or pack for an adventure.

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Side, Fall, Entrée, Winter

CAULIFLOWER + BROWN RICE GRATIN

Sara Forte · March 12, 2014

I've said for years now that I hate moving and after the past few weeks I can confidently say I still stand by that sentiment. I know there are certain crazy people who like finding new places for things and the boxes and fresh starts but I am not that kind of crazy person. I am a different kind of crazy person - the kind that figuratively looses her shit when things are out of control and messy and expensive and in flux. It probably doesn't help anyone that I am pregnant and extra emotional so the tears seemed to sit right behind my eye lids at the ready for a quick breakdown. My beloved husband... My parents would praise him when I would call upset that the gray paint looked too blue (so tragic!), they wouldn't entertain my over-reacting, just a "God bless that Hugh." It didn't change the gray, but I started to catch on that I was the only one who was taking things like the size of a rug or the density of curtain fabric so seriously.

Hugh showed me a few photos he shot of my belly a few weeks ago and I got shuffled back into perspective. In short, he said "I'm afraid you're missing all the good things in front of you because you are so concerned with the house looking a certain way." He's right and I am. I mean, I was, because I am trying to calm down starting today. We will create a beautiful home in its time. These sorts of projects take months and years, not a couple weeks. I've been throwing meals together but in an effort to get back to work on both the blog and book, I actually cooked cooked - as in not just scrambled eggs or grilled cheese. I oiled the cutting boards and Hugh and his dad fiddled with the oven to get it up and running again. It was today, cooking and working in this new kitchen, that both of us said it felt like our home. I threw together a strawberry-lemon breakfast cake and we danced when familiar songs came on Pandora and I felt a little less crazy. I was reminded that it's the comfortable rituals and familiar idiosyncrasies of the days and the people you spend them with that make a place feel like home, not the paint color or ideal curtains. My usual answer when people ask why I like to cook is because I like to serve people in this small way, but I also love that it is a cozy skill - a skill that can warm your own heart when you need it to.

I had a gigantic head of cauliflower from my recent CSA basket and went the warm and cheesy route because I wanted the kitchen to smell delicious and the 30 week-old person in my belly likes warm and cheesy things. A well charred tray of garlicky-roasted cauliflower is my tried and true, but folding the florets and brown rice in with some milk and cheese offered a pseudo mac n cheese situation. I think you could add in some chopped spinach for greenery or mix in a dollop of horseradish to give it a kick. Either way, it's vegetable comfort food and it was just what we needed.

CAULIFLOWER + BROWN RICE GRATIN // Serves 4

Recipe adapted and mashed up from Smitten Kitchen and Naturally Ella

I know someone will ask about making this gluten free and with a little searching it seems you can substitute cornstarch in the roux. I haven't tried it, but it sounds to me like it would work. I think this would also look adorable in individual ramekins or gratin dishes. Those would likely cook in under 20 minutes.

2 lbs. cauliflower
1 cup cooked brown rice
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 of a red onion, minced
1/2 tsp. sea salt and pepper, more as needed
2 Tbsp. unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk, room temperature
1/4 tsp. fresh grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cayenne
1/2 tsp. dried Italian herb
1/2 cup grated parmesan, plus more for topping
3/4 cup shredded gruyere, plus more for topping
fresh chopped, parsley for garnish

Preheat the oven to 400' and grease an 8x8 pan.

Cut up the cauliflower into small chunks. Steam for 5-7 minutes until softened. Combine the cauliflower and brown rice in a mixing bowl and set aside (I ripped up any larger cauli pieces at this point).

In a saucepan, warm the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion and 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper. Saute until softened. Add the flour and cook another minute. Slowly start adding the milk, continuing to stir to combine. Turn the heat down to low and let the roux thicken. Add the nutmeg, cayenne and Italian herbs. Stir in the parmesan and gruyere until just melted in. Pour the warm cheese mixture (it will be pretty thick) over the cauli and rice, add another few pinches of salt and pepper and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into your baking dish and sprinkle the top with another handful of grated gruyere, parmesan and fresh ground pepper. Bake on the middle rack for 20 minutes or until the edges start to bubble. Turn the heat up to 500' and cook another 6-10 minutes until the top is golden brown. Remove and let it cool for a few minutes.

Sprinkle the top with fresh chopped parsley and serve warm.

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Entrée, Side, Gluten Free, Winter, Salad, Fall

POWER GREEN SALAD

Sara Forte · February 17, 2014

It was funny how similar in sentiment Hugh and my Valentine's cards were. They essentially said "I don't know how the hell we are going to pull all of this off, but I have you, and that's the only reason I believe we're capable and I won't die in the next few months." We get the keys to our house tomorrow and it's safe to say both of us are equal parts scared and excited. This apartment, my first home with Hugh, is tough to leave. I'll miss the excessive pantry space here and my favorite routine beach walk. There are quirks here that in their own weird way contribute to it feeling known and ours - like all the stray cats that hang out in the front area, especially when they're mating (it's true, we call it the cat brothel, you've never seen anything like it), or the little old lady whose kitchen window looks right into ours who I try to not make eye contact with while I am eating something standing over the sink. We made our first book here and I showed Hugh my long awaited positive pregnancy test on those front steps. I just wrangled down the Christmas lights we've had framing our front door since our first month here, which we intentionally left up year round because every once in a while it was nice to come home to a sparkly welcome. The ice cream truck that consistently makes a neighborhood round at about 6pm. I assume it's his second job with those hours. They aren't exactly prime time for street-side ice cream purchases. I wish I had bought something from him just to show support. We built a life here and established roots in our first few years of marriage. I know this home well and in the throws of change, it makes leaving the familiar that much harder. We are on to new pages of another chapter, and moving forward offers its own set of rewards I'm looking forward to knowing. My thoughtful friend posted this quote on her blog and I love it, I keep going back to it. I am a lady who likes a plan, a substantial nest egg and having a general grasp on what to expect. They're bad habits, really, when you hold on to them too tight. I think there will be some sort of freedom from releasing those safeties as this settles into my bones.

"We think the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It's just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, room for relief, for misery, for joy." - Pema Chodron

Because this week will mostly be between places, moving and cleaning and painting and such, I tried to stock the fridge with foods that can be assembled in five minutes. Sandwich goods, granola bars, cut fruit and veggies and a salad like this one that will hold up well for a few days of quick meals. It's crunchy and filling, and while simple, is just the thing I need on hand right now. It takes about 7 minutes to put together and maybe that is the sort of time frame you're cooking in these days, as well.

It may be a little snoozy around here for the next couple weeks as we get things up and running in a new kitchen but we're excited to emerge on the other side. Until then.

POWER GREEN SALAD // Serves 4

Inspired by An Edible Mosaic

This salad is pretty crunchy. I'm still eating from the bowl on day three and don't find it soggy at all. That said, it would be great for a plane ride or delivering to a new mom/sick friend etc. It's a sturdy one. I added parmesan because it holds up, but feta or goat cheese will work here too. It's pretty simple, change as you wish.

3 cups ribbed and chopped kale
handful of chopped parsley
1 cup cooked black lentils
1 green apple, diced
half an english cucumber, diced
1/2 cup toasted pepitas
1 cup shaved parmesan
dressing
one clove garlic
1 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. dijon
juice of one lemon
1/3 cup pumpkin seed oil or extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

In a large salad bowl, combine the kale, parsley, lentils, apples, cucumber, pepitas and parmesan.

For the dressing, blitz everything in a food processor or blender, with salt and pepper to taste, until the garlic is smooth.

Pour the dressing on the salad and toss well to coat. Garnish with more parmesan if you wish. The salad will keep in the fridge for a full day and slowly loose it's crunch from there.

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