Monday, March 27, 2017

March Photo A Day 27 - Eat



Today's March Photo A Day prompt is "Eat" so I thought I would show you what I've been eating lately. The Cashew Smoothie Bowl above was yesterday's "Second Breakfast" (yes, I am secretly a Hobbit.)  



In the summer, we eat almost exclusively "farm fare" fresh from the garden.  We go out and harvest, come in and preserve, and eat whatever is at hand.  We eat a lot of salads in the early summer, and a lot of tomatoes in the late summer, and a lot of squash from harvest in autumn until they run out or go bad in the root cellar.

At this time of year, there are still a few good spaghetti squash in the root cellar, and still some canned goods on the shelves in the canning room.  We even have a small "salad patch" growing in a tray under full-spectrum lights.  However, I get a little tired of the storage foods about now. The truth is that the first breath of spring air elicits in me a craving for food pulled straight from the garden.

I clipped fresh thyme today, as I have several times this winter, and I see that chives and sorrel will be available in small quantities soon.  In the meantime, I have been trying to add something new and fresh to my cooking repertoire to hold me over until the early harvests from this year's garden.

A few weeks ago, I had a "smoothie bowl" (a thick smoothie that you eat with a spoon, rather than drink) at a restaurant, and I have been wanting to recreate that at home.  I was home alone all day Sunday, so it was a perfect day to experiment and not worry about forcing anyone else to eat the results of my innovations.  I shouldn't have worried, because my Cashew Smoothie Bowl was delicious! 

The "Un-recipe" follows (because I am a "little bit of this, little bit of that, type of cook!)

Cashew Smoothie Bowl

Soak in water overnight
  •  1 1/2 cups of raw cashews

Drain.

Blend (in food processor or high power blender)
  • Cashews
  • 1/4 cup fresh water
  • Cinnamon to taste
  • Pure Almond or Vanilla Extract (1/8 tsp or to taste)
  • 4 medjool dates
  • 2 bananas

Top with fun extras.  I used (from left to right in photo)
  • Roasted lightly salted sunflower seeds
  • Blueberries
  • Black Chia Seeds
  • Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
Eat with a spoon!


Today's Second Breakfast was a variation on a theme. My Avocado & Greens Smoothie Bowl was topped with unsweetened coconut, strawberries, mandarin orange wedges, and walnuts.









11 comments:

Out on the prairie said...

I make a lot of smoothies but never like this so will give it a try. I shop a store called Fresh Thyme and get all my ingredients there mostly

Cat Lover said...

Your second breakfasts look delicious! We eat breakfast just after 6:00 so at 9:00 I have fruit and yogurt to tide me over until lunch. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Robin

Marcie said...

I do a lot of smoothies too, but this is a fresh take on it! I would have never thought of it, if I hadn't tried it at a restaurant! Hope you enjoy. Of course, the sky is the limit on combinations of the "smooth part" and the toppings!

Marcie said...

PS: Fresh Thyme is a super fun name for the store! I love it!

Marcie said...

Robin, They were yummy! I eat first breakfast pretty early too, so we are in the same situation! :D

Lowcarb team member said...

"farm fare fresh from the garden" ...

You can't beat it!

All the best Jan

Sandra Cox said...

Oh my! That does look luscious.

Marcie said...

Right? :D

Marcie said...

Yum! I'm going to try another version tomorrow.. Just sort of winging it with what I have on hand.

My Journey To Mindfulness said...

checking in
time going by so fast with someone here with me a while longer
family here Sunday, his birthday...
your smoothie looks so good. now difficult to chew nuts and like the idea
of soaking them, I chop a lot :)
miss sharing
but soon
will begin again
so much being done and put back in order :)

Marcie said...

Ernestine, I knew you were busy with family. That is a good kind of busy! I look forward to reading your thoughts when you get back to blogging, but there is no rush! Enjoy your special time with family.

The smoothies have been good! I have blackberries and mangoes from a run to town today. I think they will end up in a smoothie bowl tomorrow!